Gordon, Jim Obituary

Gordon, Jim attended Horace Mann High School in Gary, IN. View the obituary, post a memory, or share a photo about Gordon, Jim.

Graduation Year	Class of 1964
Date of Passing	Sep 28, 2007
About	Post-Tribune (IN) - Sunday, September 30, 2007 Jim Gordon loved to make readers laugh. And he did it often. Gifted with the ability to spill words onto a page in poetic fashion, Gordon shared his life and the lives of others with Post-Tribune readers for the better part of 23 years before retiring from the newspaper in June of last year. On Friday, September 28, Gordon died from a heart attack. He was 60. "Jim had a knack for tapping into the common threads of readers' lives. Through the years, Post-Tribune readers have said they looked forward to reading his columns and movie reviews. We will remember his ability to tell stories -- whether in print or in conversation -- for many years to come," Executive Editor Paulette Haddix said. "Jim was a friend, a colleague and a Post-Tribune legend." Raised in Gary and a proud 1964 graduate of Horace Mann, Gordon lived in Chesterton with his wife Judy Germick. Hired by the Post-Tribune on May 9, 1983, Gordon worked as a television and movie critic before becoming a copy editor for the newspaper. A film savant, having earned a master's degree and doctorate in film after obtaining his bachelor's degree in English literature, Gordon returned to his love of reviewing movies in 1989. In addition to reviewing films, he was a longtime columnist for the Post-Tribune, finding his way into readers' homes several times a week. "Jim had a way with words like few others I've met in this profession," Post-Tribune Editorial Page Editor Rich James said. "He was a wordsmith. "I'd often go to him and ask about the origin of a phrase, and he almost always had the answer. Besides his love for writing and film, he was a devout fan of the White Sox and (Indiana University) basketball." Along with his newspaper duties, he spent time in the classroom, sharing his literary and film knowledge. And for a short time, he hosted a show on WYIN Channel 56, introducing and sharing his wit during airings of vintage movies. "What he did was sit in a chair with a bowl of popcorn and talk to the audience about what the movie would be," former Channel 56 personality Tom Higgins said. "These movies were two steps this side of subtitles; that's how old they were. "He would say something like, 'This premier tonight is something beholden to you for the rest of your natural life.' It was really funny, and he was just great at it." Joe Saikin was a neighbor of Gordon's for 13 years. He said he was with Gordon moments before he died. Saikin had helped Gordon set up a table Friday for a garage sale. They had been laughing and joking for about an hour and a half while drinking coffee. "I couldn't tell anything was wrong," Saikin said. "He was just fine." Saikin said he'll miss calling out his special morning greeting to Gordon: "Hey, Gordon-ee!" Edmonds and Evans Funeral Home in Chesterton is handling arrangements. A spokesperson there said the family is planning a memorial ceremony. "Jim had a lust for life, and it was one of the first things you learned about him when you got to know him," former Post-Tribune Lifestyle Editor Tara Kingston said. "He was an intellectual, but yet he was an everyman. He could sit at a bar and talk with anybody as easily as he could sit and have a discourse on film. "I just can't believe he's gone." Lifestyle Editor Nichole Palmer contributed to this story. Contact Tom Wyatt at 477-6017 or twyatt@post-trib.com