Howard Gordon
July 29, 1927 - October 13, 2022
Fort Lauderdale, Florida - Howard Leo Gordon, M.D. July 29, 1927 - October 13, 2022
Howard was born on July 29, 1927, in Tampa, Florida to Aaron Gordon and Evelyn Leo. Howard spent his childhood in Miami Beach and then in Washington D.C., where he graduated from Calvin Coolidge high school in 1944. In 1945 he joined the Navy, as his father had before him. He graduated from Georgetown University in 1947 with a B.S. in Philosophy and then George Washington University with an M.S. in Radiology and an M.D. in 1952. He went on to do an internship at the American Hospital in Paris, beginning a lifelong love of France. He also trained at the University of Chicago and Mt. Sinai Hospital on Miami Beach.
He was a gifted and world-renowned plastic surgeon who practiced in Miami for 40 years. Howard received many accolades, trained countless other plastic surgeons, developed new procedures, co-authored a book, lectured widely, and co-founded the Baker Gordon Educational Symposium in 1967, which continues to this day as the preeminent aesthetic surgery seminar in the world, celebrating its 57th anniversary in February of 2023.
However, being a doctor was only one of his many talents and interests, and to merely list his professional accomplishments would be missing who Howard was. He was so much more than just a doctor, more than can ever be listed. To know him was to continually marvel at the breadth and depth of his knowledge and intellectual curiosity. He learned to fly airplanes and helicopters, rode motorcycles, and enjoyed sailing, skiing and scuba diving. He loved languages, art, movies, history, science, food and music, traveling to every corner of the world at every opportunity. From working on the SS Hope, a hospital ship operated by Project Hope, in West Africa and South America, to fly fishing in Alaska, to riding a motorcycle across New Zealand, he went all the places and did all the things. He did not suffer fools gladly, it is true, but in addition to his epic intellect, he also had a generous nature, a quick wit, and a loving heart. He never stopped being unbelievably brilliant and curious about the world.
He always said that his greatest accomplishment was his children. We loved him back dearly and will miss his wry humor, his endless insights, and most of all, his love.
Howard passed away on October 13, 2022. He was 95, in his own bed, in his son’s house, having wrung every last drop out of a life that was truly well lived. We should all be so fortunate.
He is survived by his children, Ken Gordon (Dana), Karen Gordon Schwartz (Jon), and Heather Gordon Seen (Anthony), his grandsons Jake and Dylan Schwartz, his brother Richard Gordon, his sister Barbara Gordon Ficacci (Frank), and his cousin Lynn Leo Landy (Richard).
It was Howard’s request to not to have a service, and as such, no funeral or memorial will be held.