Gordon Sinclair Bird Jr.'s Obituary
November 29, 1933 ~ August 7, 2013
Gordon Sinclair Bird Jr., 79, passed away on Wednesday, August 7th, 2013.
He was born on 29 November, 1933 in Brookline, Massachusetts, to Gordon Sinclair Bird, Sr. and Olive Elizabeth Battles Bird, and eldest brother to David Owen Bird.
Gordon grew up in Winchester, Mass 1938-1951, and graduated from Winchester High School in 1951. He was best known as “Buzzy” Bird or “Buzz” because of his boundless energy. He ran track and cross country and was the captain of the Winchester High Track team. He then attended Bates College, 1951-1953. He enlisted into the Army in 1954-1956 and served in the German theatre during the Korean War conflict period. While serving in the U.S. Army - Europe, he was a member of the Rhine Track Team and the Army ski patrol in the Alps. In 1956, the same year that Roger Bannister broke the 4 minute mile, he ran a mile in 4:06…world class athlete! He also worked as a as a medic and Company Clerk when he was not running or skiing.
Gordon married his first wife Hertha E. Koch after they met in Berchtesgaden, Germany while he was serving in the ski patrol in the Bavarian Alps. They were married in his hometown of Winchester in 1957 at his family home. He was attending college at Bates in Lewiston, Maine, when he was married to Hertha. After the wedding, they moved back to Bates where he finished his degree in Geology. A strong friendship with Richard and Elaine Hechtl was established at Bates College, which continued throughout their lives. Buzz and Richard were best friends and departed this life within a month and a half of each other, just as they had always done, sharing and doing everything together. Upon completion of college at Bates, Hertha and Gordon moved to Boston where he attended Boston University and obtained his Master’s degree in Geology. He also completed his PhD course work in Geology, less the dissertation. Gordon was gifted with a high intellect and he was very successful in academics. Susanne E. Bird, his daughter, was born in December 11, 1958 in Winchester, Mass. While in graduate school, Gordon entered the workplace working for the Geological survey department. They continued to live in Massachusetts and they had a son, Peter D. Bird, born on 2 March 1961, also in Winchester, Mass. Gordon was a passionate man and had many goals and dreams. His main focus early in life was to establish himself in a successful career. He found new employment with a company in Cambridge, Mass. and he had success as a developer of new technologies that were used in the U.S. Space program, establishing patents in thermocouple technology. His innovations and inventions were documented and culminated in a book titled: Cambion Thermoelectric Handbook, published for his company, in 1971. During his time with Cambion, Gordon moved his family to New Hampshire where he pursued another passion….growing vegetables and starting his own business. He started a small farm along with his family and spent many years tilling the earth and producing some of the finest vegetables ever seen in New Hampshire! As with all he did, the latest farming technology was used and the latest vegetable hybrids were cultivated. The Bird’s Farm Stand was alongside a rural road and was a family run business, active participants being his father, Gordon S. Bird Sr., wife Hertha, and children Susi and Peter. He built a successful business where the Bird’s sold their vegetables to the grateful locals and passersby. He commuted daily to Massachusetts to work fulltime while the farm stand was working, and he would proudly tell you he drove the equivalent to the moon and back in order to continue working at his passion of farming which had been instilled in him as a boy on his grandfather’s farm in Brockton, Mass. The farm was home to many animals and produced many fond memories for friends and family and all the folks who enjoyed the fresh corn and amazing tomatoes grown by Gordon and his family.
Gordon’s life journey took a path westward in 1971. He and friend decided to venture out on their own and start a business in Blanding, Utah. They founded Canyonlands 21st Century Corporation. Their vision was to produce the highest purity metals required to sell back to larger companies in the burgeoning high tech industry…specifically computers and calculators. Gordon spent years working to get his business off the ground. He also branched off into the mining business and had several mines operating in Idaho and Nevada. Gordon’s family moved west in 1973 and joined him in Blanding. He was proud of his accomplishments with his business and was voted the small business of the year in Utah in 1978. He was invited to a small business conference in Washington D.C. and was privileged to meet then, President Jimmy Carter where they discussed small business in the U.S.
Gordon divorced Hertha and met his second wife Lynda Bird. He lived in Salt Lake City and was an important part of Lynda’s life and the raising of her two sons Randy and Rik Rarick. Gordon always cared for and loved Randy and Rik like his sons…and then his grand kids from that side of his family. Lynda and Gordon moved to Blanding where they lived for many years until his business was sold and transferred to another owner. He then moved to Minnesota with Lynda where he worked in the car business for the duration of his career. He met and loved many people in Minnesota, and was very fond of all the sports teams in Minnesota. While in Minnesota, he developed cancer. He was fortunate to have the VA hospital assistance and they were able to give him a long life despite his health issues.
Gordon moved back to Blanding in 2011. It was here where he found his purpose and meaning in life. He found his spiritual peace within his heart and joined the LDS church. He was baptized on 5 July 2013 at the age of 79. He later recounted to many, that despite all the amazing events that had occurred in his life, this one event was the most meaningful for him. He set a beautiful example of passing on to his Father in Heaven in peace and love.
Gordon will be remembered for his passion, perseverance, “strong” goal/task focused personality (some may recall this), love for family and many friends, his animals all his dogs named Heidi and Penny, and love for gardening, hunting, stamp collecting, fishing and genealogy. He loved researching his family history, and over a 30-year period worked for hundreds of hours researching and documenting history and information on over 20,000 ancestors, some dating back to Charlemagne. This was one of his greatest life’s accomplishments. His strong faith and belief in God were discovered late in life….his Spirit bloomed and he was enjoying the peace of his faith late in his life and through his passage beyond.
Gordon is survived by his brother retired U.S. Army Col. David O. Bird; former wives, Hertha E. Bird and Lynda D. Bird; children Daughter, Susi Bird Felice, Son, Peter D. Bird, stepsons Randy Rarick, Rik Rarick, many grandkids, and loved ones, and his cousin, “Mouse” who held a special place in his heart. He is preceded in death by his parents.
NH Memorial Sept 27th, at the old Bird Farm (currently Compassionate Veterinary Hospital, Bradford, NH). Salt Lake City Memorial, Friday, October 4, 2013, at 10 a.m. LDS Church 3100 East Craig Drive, Salt Lake City, Utah. Blanding, Utah Memorial: Saturday, October 5, 2013, 12:30 service at the Stake Center in Blanding.
Arrangements were entrusted to Premier Funeral Services___________ Mortuary.
Interment in Bluffdale, Utah VA cemetery; Blanding Utah cemetery, and Bradford N.H. cemetery.
Please post condolences and remembrances on this website! In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be given on behalf of Gordon Bird, to the SLC VA Fisher House (where veterans and their families stay while at the VA hospital). Please mail to: SLC Fisher House, c/o Susi Felice 3004 East Upland Drive, SLC, UT 84109. They will be taken personally to the Fisher House.
Card of thanks The family wishes to express their gratitude for the countless people who shared their love, support, and time with Gordon and his family over these years. Susi and Peter want to especially thank their mother Hertha E. Bird for her tireless hours spent at Gordon’s side on our farm, giving us a wonderful place to grow up. Her strength and determination have been an inspiration. They also wish to thank Lynda D. Bird for her self-less caring of their father in his later years. She gave him a home and happiness the last few years of his life for which they will forever be grateful. Randy & Lisa your special care and support of him will not be forgotten. Special thanks to the staff at the Salt Lake City VA hospital, especially the Urology Team of doctors and the wonderful nursing staff on the 2nd floor. The Fischer House, and the kind caregivers at Olympus Rehabilitation center in Salt Lake. Additional appreciation to Dr. Curtis Black and the Monticello Hospital staff, and the Rocky Mountain Health care team, and the Blanding Nursing Home for their wonderful care of Gordon.
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