On the occasion of Gordon's passage We, Rupert and Linda Barnes, lived next to Gordon and Roxanna in the early days of the Kemper building in the famous filing cabinet suites. Often, in the evening, after our progeny had been tucked into their respective filing cabinet cubbies, aromatic pipe smoke would waft over the top and between the cracks of the filing cabinets into our neighboring suite. One could hear Gordon rustling through papers or quietly commenting to Roxana about something read in the New York Times. That was my first brief acquaintance with the Harper clan as they were rapidly whisked off to Taiwan and India and only much later were the Barnes and the Harpers to reacquaint through the marriage of Elena Harper and Daudi Barnes. Over the years we have had the privilege of interacting with Gordon and Roxanna through family gatherings and as grandchildren wove their way into our families. A prodigious mind, ever inquisitive, ever mindful of the uniqueness of the spirit movement, grounded in the Order Ecumenical, ironic to a fault. A father and grandfather of loving objectivity, a colleague and a dear friend. We experience loss at this moment, but we will remember you Gordon in fullness as a warrior for justice and humanity. Thank you for passing our way on this amazing journey. -- *Linda Rolfing Barnes, CNM*
Dear colleagues, I share in the deep sorrow that all of you must feel with the passage of our dear friend and colleague. I am so glad for having known and worked with him and grateful to him for having alerted us to the fact that he was nearing the end. My condolences to Roxana, his children and other members of his family. I shall always remember the twinkle in his eye and his style of confronting difficult situations with a humorous comment. regards, Dharma On Tuesday, 9 February 2016, 19:32, Linda Barnes via OE <oe@lists.wedgeblade.net> wrote: On the occasion of Gordon's passage We, Rupert and Linda Barnes, lived next to Gordon andRoxanna in the early days of the Kemper building in the famous filing cabinetsuites. Often, in the evening, after ourprogeny had been tucked into their respective filing cabinet cubbies,aromatic pipe smoke would waft over thetop and between the cracks of the filing cabinets into our neighboring suite. One could hear Gordon rustling through papersor quietly commenting to Roxana about something read in the New York Times. That was my first brief acquaintancewith the Harper clan as they were rapidly whisked off to Taiwan and India and onlymuch later were the Barnes and theHarpers to reacquaint through the marriage of Elena Harper and DaudiBarnes. Over the years we have had the privilege of interacting withGordon and Roxanna through family gatherings and as grandchildren wove theirway into our families. A prodigiousmind, ever inquisitive, ever mindful of the uniqueness of the spirit movement,grounded in the Order Ecumenical, ironic to a fault. A father and grandfather of lovingobjectivity, a colleague and a dear friend. We experience loss at this moment, but we will remember you Gordon in fullness as a warrior for justice andhumanity. Thank you for passing our way onthis amazing journey. -- Linda Rolfing Barnes, CNM _______________________________________________ OE mailing list OE@lists.wedgeblade.net http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/oe-wedgeblade.net
I didn't know Gordon well at all, but he stood out among the throngs in navy blue. Of course there was the pipe and goatee ... but there was something more. As we talked about him over dinner last night, my parents told me Gordon was a scholar of English (literature, I assume), and now I can see how well he fit that part. I can imagine him performing on stage or at the podium, opening young minds to the beauty and genius of Shakespeare. Perhaps in his quest to save the world, he gave up other aspirations (totally guessing here). I will say that in the past few months, as he faced his own death, he posted some of the most eloquent, insightful, beautiful and loving reflections I've ever read on the OE list. I can see him clearly in my mind's eye, head tilted slightly back, a great smile, sweet-smelling pipe ... I'm glad I knew him, if only a little. Sending love and wishes for peace to Roxana, Geoff, Elena & Stuart. With warmest regards, Shelley Hahn On Tue, Feb 9, 2016 at 6:32 AM, Linda Barnes via OE <oe@lists.wedgeblade.net
wrote:
On the occasion of Gordon's passage
We, Rupert and Linda Barnes, lived next to Gordon and Roxanna in the early days of the Kemper building in the famous filing cabinet suites. Often, in the evening, after our progeny had been tucked into their respective filing cabinet cubbies, aromatic pipe smoke would waft over the top and between the cracks of the filing cabinets into our neighboring suite. One could hear Gordon rustling through papers or quietly commenting to Roxana about something read in the New York Times. That was my first brief acquaintance with the Harper clan as they were rapidly whisked off to Taiwan and India and only much later were the Barnes and the Harpers to reacquaint through the marriage of Elena Harper and Daudi Barnes.
Over the years we have had the privilege of interacting with Gordon and Roxanna through family gatherings and as grandchildren wove their way into our families. A prodigious mind, ever inquisitive, ever mindful of the uniqueness of the spirit movement, grounded in the Order Ecumenical, ironic to a fault. A father and grandfather of loving objectivity, a colleague and a dear friend. We experience loss at this moment, but we will remember you Gordon in fullness as a warrior for justice and humanity. Thank you for passing our way on this amazing journey.
--
*Linda Rolfing Barnes, CNM*
_______________________________________________ OE mailing list OE@lists.wedgeblade.net http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/oe-wedgeblade.net
participants (3)
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Dharmalingam Vinasithamby via OE -
Linda Barnes via OE
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Shelley Hahn via OE