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Alice Orndorff Gordon, 78, passed away quietly in her sleep early Thursday morning, March 5 at her home in Madison. Alice was the loving wife of Donald R. Gordon (82), who survives. In addition to her two sons Philip (56) of Avon, and Douglas (53) and wife Karen of Duxbury, Massachusetts, Alice’s much adored grandchildren Tyler (23) Chase (20), Paige (18), Margot (15), as well as the boys’ mother Leslie, will miss Alice dearly.

A coffin-side viewing, and goodbye for immediate family members was held on March 6. Alice was cremated and her ashes will be placed between her parents, John and Verna, at their grave site in Hinsdale, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. No further services are planned.

Alice was born and lived her early life in River Forest, Illinois. After grammar school in River Forest/Oak Park, she graduated from The Dana Hall School in Wellesley, Massachusetts. Alice went on to graduate with a BA from Connecticut College (for Women) in New London.

After marrying Don in Chicago on Jan. 25, 1963, they set up housekeeping in Hingham, Massachusetts. In 1971 the family moved to New Haven, and set up residence in Madison. In 1987 Alice lived in New York City and spent her week days there, coming back to Madison on weekends. In 2007 Alice returned home to Madison for good.

While in New York City, Alice applied to and was accepted to the docent program at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Alice also took up the added job of research assistant to two curators at the Met, as well as continuing her job as a docent. Alice often mentioned that her 20 years in New York City were the happiest years of her life.

Alice was a member of the Board of Directors of the Scranton Library in Madison. Alice and three other Madison ladies founded an off-shoot of the Madison Foundation, Neighbor to Neighbor, N2N. The purpose of their idea was to be able to quickly help local people who had immediate emergency financial needs that could not be helped without waiting to go through all the red tape and scrutiny required by other charities. Alice also traveled to New London, where she also was a docent at the Lyman Allan Museum.

In lieu of flowers or cards, please make a donation to a charity of your choice.