Sir Donald Gordon: Mogul who symbolised the Best of SA
LIBERTY LIFE FOUNDER, entrepreneur and philanthropist Sir Donald Gordon passed away recently aged 89, leaving a rich legacy as an international philanthropist and humanist.
Having started Liberty Life in 1957, Donald Gordon went on to become one of South Africa’s most intrepid business people and easily recognisable names. Liberty Life eventually had an international arm, Liberty International, headquartered in London.
Gordon’s contribution to worthy causes inspired most of the tributes that came in the wake of his passing, that being the clearest indication of his patriotism, generosity of spirit and sense of purpose.
His alma mater Wits University, who benefitted handsomely from his philanthropy, in their tribute noted that Donald Gordon had contributed to “building world-class facilities to accommodate and train members of the public service administration”. Most of this staff were exiles returning to the country in the period leading to democracy, the university noted, adding that it was thus fitting to have an auditorium, the Donald Gordon Auditorium (established in 1993) and a building, the Donald Gordon Building on the Wits Management Campus in Parktown, named after the icon.
The university also acknowledged that it was Sir Donald who made possible its acquisition of the Kenridge Hospital in 2002, which Mediclinic joined as a shareholder three years later.
By the time of his passing, there were up to 10 institutions or facilities including at universities and medical centres, bearing Donald Gordon’s name.
These include Wits Gordon Medical Centre in Parktown, South Africa’s first private teaching hospital, established thanks to a R120-million donation from the philanthropist. Within this medical centre can be found the Wits Donald Gordon Kidney and Dialysis Centre.
The Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) in Johannesburg was established in January 2000 following a substantial contribution by Gordon and a major investment by the University of Pretoria.
He also donated Gordon house, at his former Johannesburg school, King Edward VII, among numerous donations to the school.
The Donald Gordon Theatre at the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff also bears its patron’s name, following the businessman’s donation of more than R380 million ( 20 million) to the facility.
Then there’s of course the Donald Gordon Foundation, established in 1971, from which flowed donations to numerous local and international charitable causes including the Royal Opera House and other institutions in the United Kingdom.
As many were surprised to learn soon after news of his passing broke, Donald Gordon was also behind the development of Sandton City, the jewel in the crown of South Africa’s shopping centres.
Sir Donald Gordon timeline:
1930 – Born in Johannesburg to Nathan and Sheila Gordon
1947 – Matriculates from King Edward VII School
1957 – Founds Liberty Life
1968 – Receives Businessman of the Year award
1999 – Named The Achiever of the Century in South African Financial Services 2000 – Entrepreneur of the Year Special Award, London
2005 – Awarded knighthood for services to arts and business