Elizabeth Bolgiano Gordon

Elizabeth Bolgiano Gordon, 91, died Friday evening, October 2, 2015, at Cayuga Medical Center, Ithaca, NY.

Elizabeth was born and grew up in Baltimore, Maryland, where she graduated the Friends School and, in 1946, earned a B.A. from Goucher College. During World War II, she served in the American Red Cross Motor Corps, where she was trained to drive trucks and ambulances. One night a month she airplane spotted in a hut on a remote golf course outside of Baltimore. After college, she was employed in the advertising field until her marriage to Ralph Bolgiano, Jr., in l948. In the 1950's, Ithaca became their permanent home when Ralph accepted a position on the Faculty in the School of Electrical Engineering at Cornell.

In Ithaca, Elizabeth held various part-time positions. At Cornell she was employed by the School of Industrial and Labor Relations as an Administrative Assistant, and then as a Staff Assistant in the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and in the Division of Basic Studies. Later, she was hired by the Telluride Association to be its Alumni Secretary and Editor of the Telluride Newsletter. In l982 she became the Assistant Ombudsman of Cornell University, a position she enjoyed immensely and held until her retirement.

In the midst of her responsibilities as the mother of four active children, Elizabeth was an enthusiastic volunteer in the Ithaca community. She was actively involved in the Children's Ward Committee of Tompkins County Hospital. She became a member of the Board of the League of Women Voters, edited that organization's "Newsletter," later serving as Vice President. In l964, she, Ralph, and their children spent his sabbatical leave year in France. After returning to Ithaca, she joined the Board of the Family and Children's Service where she was elected Secretary and, subsequently, President of the Board. With Jack Lewis, she was a Founding Member of the Suicide Prevention and Crisis Services, serving on its Board, recruiting volunteers and acting as one herself when that organization began operations from one room in a house in downtown Ithaca. Returning to Ithaca in 1972, after her husband's second sabbatical leave in England, she joined the Board of the Alcoholism Council of Tompkins County. Upon her retirement from Cornell, she became a volunteer in the gift shop at Cornell Plantations.

Reading was one of Elizabeth's great pleasures. Another was travel, which she enjoyed immensely. She was an avid sailor, having grown up on the Chesapeake Bay. In Ithaca, she and Ralph sailed their Star boat out of the Ithaca Yacht Club.

In the late 1990's, Elizabeth and Ralph moved to Kendal at Ithaca, where she was an avid supporter of the Quaker concept of retirement living. There she served on various committees, including the Quality of Life Committee, the Ethics Committee, and the Library Committee. She also served as the Kendal-at-Ithaca Ombudsman for a two-year term.

In 2002, Ralph Bolgiano died unexpectedly. Subsequently, Elizabeth married William E. Gordon, the Father of the Arecibo Observatory. She and Bill felt fortunate to have seven splendid years together before he died in 2010.

Right up until her death, Elizabeth remained very active with her wide circle of friends. Even though she was a self-described "elder-fossil," her genuine interest in others and in the world around her was exceptional. She was able to stand by her own opinion without having it get in the way of strong friendship and mutual respect. Elizabeth lived her life with wit, humor, compassion, and an appreciation for quiet good taste.

Elizabeth is survived by her four children: Randy, Douglas, Christopher and Elizabeth Bolgiano and their families, including five grandchildren and one great grandchild. A celebration of her life will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, November 6, 2015, in the Auditorium at Kendal. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations are kindly directed to Suicide Prevention and Crisis Services, 124 East Court Street. Ithaca, NY 14850.