Gordon J. Spence

Gordon J. Spence died on April 10, 2020, one month shy of 89 years young. He was married to his loving and devoted wife, Patti J. Spence, for one week shy of 49 years.

Gordon lived in Northbridge since his birth on May 6, 1931. He grew up playing baseball on the fields around town and basketball at the Whitin Community Center.  His parents Agnes and Joe Spence, his brother Bob, and Gordon together ran the Spence Music Shop on Church Street and big band dances at the Town Hall.

Gordon worked in the Sutton schools for 38 years, starting out as a math teacher and eventually serving as the Superintendent of Schools for 25 years. He was also an avid golfer and had fond memories of refereeing high school and college basketball games.  He was giving golf and basketball tips to his grandchildren Ella and Nicholas until the week of his death.    

Gordon spent summers in Ocean Park, Maine with Patti and their daughters Staci and Sarah.  For the past 37 years, Gordon and Patti have run the Ocean Park Soda Fountain and Variety Shoppe. Instead of funeral services, Gordon’s request was for his family to stop the ice cream line one summer night and play Sinatra’s My Way. 

In Gordon’s later years, he often said, “I’ve had a great life.” His nickname was Gordo, pronounced almost like God-O, causing one friend’s young daughter to think that Gordon actually was God. Gordo loved this story, and it might have been his last laugh to die on Good Friday. 

In lieu of flowers, please consider making  a donation  in Gordon's memory  to the Ocean Park Association Music Program, PO Box 7296 Ocean Park, ME 04063-7296 or to Oceanwood, with Campership Fund on the memo line, PO Box 7338, Ocean Park, ME 04063.

To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Gordon J. Spence, please visit our Tree Store.