- Date Of Birth: December 4, 1926
- Date Of Death: July 3, 2014
- State: Maine
Gray-Dick Jordan passed away peacefully in the arms of his two children on Friday 3/7/14 at the Gosnell Hospice Center in Scarborough. Dick suffered from Alzheimer’s disease, complications from surgery and pneumonia. He was 87.
Dick was born in Portland on 4/12/26 to Walter and Madeline (Jackson) Jordan. He attended Portland Schools and graduated from Portland High School as an accomplished athlete before entering in the Army Air Core during WWII. His Patriotic Duty during his service time was to fly around the country playing baseball for the Army Air Corp. Upon returning from the service he married Patricia Latham. He was married to Pat until her death in 1988 and remained devoted to her until his dying day. He worked several jobs (driving taxi, delivering milk etc) while teaching 6th grade in order to raise his three children and his nephew while completing his master’s degree. He graduated from Gorham Teachers College. He was recently inducted into the University of Southern Maine Hall of Fame for baseball. He served as an “Area Principal” for the City of Portland Schools for more than 35 years. He was loved by his students, parents and teachers alike for his unrelenting devotion to them. He spent hundreds of hours volunteering at the YMCA, Lyman Moore Basketball Program, Reed School Dances, and was district administrator for Portland Little League. It was under his influence and direction that Little League Nine was founded and the rule imposed that required the opportunity for each and every participant to play at least two innings per game. He tolerated nothing less than fairness and opportunity for all in everything he did. He moved from Portland to Little Sebago Lake in Gray in 1973 where he served on the SAD 15 school board at the urging of several girls on the basketball team at a time when the girl’s sports program was being threatened. After seeing his dream of a community school in Portland realized with the building of The Riverton Community School he retired. When Gray New Gloucester High School needed a golf coach he stepped up and took on the role. When Gray New Gloucester High School needed an alpine ski coach he stepped up and took on the role. When the school district did not have enough bus drivers to take the ski team to the mountain for practice he went out and obtained his school bus driver’s license so he could drive the team to the mountain. He enjoyed many years as the high school ski coach. He especially enjoyed the years his when his daughter Cathy coached the opposing Lake Region Ski Team. He was so proud when his granddaughter Katie later followed in his footsteps and became a third generation ski coach. He continued as a part time school bus driver for GNG until age 84. He absolutely loved driving the kids to any kind of sporting event. He was an avid fan and attended his last basketball game on the day of his surgery – just before he checked in at the hospital. Helping children find success and feel special was Dick’s life long pursuit.
Dick “Bumpa” Jordan was a very devoted father and grandfather. He taught all his children and grandchildren (and most of the neighborhood children) to snow ski. He spend countless hours pulling his children on waterskis, golfing with them, playing tennis with them and encouraging an active lifestyle. He attended all their sporting events and was always their biggest fan. He always recognized the best in everyone and made them feel loved and special. He raised his own three children, Wally, Stevie and Cathy and his nephew Dickie Jordan. The number of kids that lived at The Jordan house over the years can not be counted. It was a haven for all.
Dick was an avid golfer and in his retirement he golfed at Poland Springs almost every day. He was often teased about being a boring golf partner as every shot was “right down the middle”. He proudly golfed his age from the age of 68 on. The nineteenth hole remained the only hole he didn’t swear about.
Dick was predeceased by his wife Pat Jordan, son Stephen Jordan, nephew Richard Jordan, brother Walter and most recently his sister Beverly Benson who died just 5 days prior. He is survived by his son Walter Jordan and his wife Judy; daughter Cathy Manchester and her husband Jay Wilkins, grandchildren: Katie Jordan Manchester and James Betzer, Jamie Jordan and Nikki Barter, Shawn Jordan, Leandra Jordan and Tom Ruby, Alisha Jordan and Justin Stilphen. Great grandchildren : Cameron, Leah, Logan, Stephen, Little John, Mason and Hunter. Bonus grandchild and caregiver: Michael Wilkins, Kara & Donald Perkins, Christina and Robert Barcelou, Samantha Wilkins and bonus great grandchildren: Gemini, Aiden, Kristyn, Danielle, Alexia and Nicholas. Nieces: Nancy, Barbara, Diddie, Ellen, Kathy and Patty and nephews ; Ed, Danny, and Skip.
