Thomas J. Gordon, of Woodbourne, New York, died on Monday, August 31, 2015, at the Achieve Rehab and Nursing Center in Liberty, New York. He was 76.

Born and raised in the Olney neighborhood in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he was the third — and tallest — of four children of the late James and Francina McGee Gordon. He attended school in the Catholic parish of the Incarnation of Our Lord, graduated from Northeast Catholic High School and studied engineering at Villanova University before enlisting in the U.S. Army. He trained at Fort Dix in New Jersey and served in Wiesbaden, West Germany, from 1959 to 1961.

He moved to New York City and began to work in the theater, including some acting but finding his greatest success doing sound, lighting, carpentry and electrical work for theatrical productions. He constructed sets for television commercials and spent years setting up sound and staging for the ragtime piano player Max Morath during performances around the United States, as well as working for a dance company in its travels throughout the U.S. and Europe. His time in the entertainment industry left him with many stories to tell about performers he worked with, including Lily Tomlin and Arthur Godfrey.

Mr. Gordon later moved to a house surrounded by woods in New York state's Mid-Hudson Valley, where he installed the roof and porch and continued working as a handyman – his motto was “Get It Done.” But he kept in close touch with his family and enjoyed visiting his sisters Patricia and Francine in the Philadelphia area. His friendliness, cheerfulness and sense of humor always made him a welcome sight.

He is survived by his brother, James M. Gordon, and James' wife, Dianne, of Phoenix, Arizona; his two sisters, Francine “Franny” Gordon of Philadelphia and Patricia M. King of North Wales, Pennsylvania; and numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend his graveside service at 2 p.m. on Saturday, September 12, 2015, at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, 3301 West Cheltenham Avenue, Cheltenham, PA 19012. 

In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to Operation Homefront, 1355 Central Parkway S, Suite 100, San Antonio, TX 78232.