June 13, 2023
Major: Sociology
Williams relatives
- Dr. Caleb E. Gordon ’91 P’20 (Sibling)
- Dr. James H. Gordon ’62 P’99 ’91 GP’20 (Parent)
- Mr. Frederick W. Gramlich ’69 (Uncle)
- Mr. Edward M. Gramlich (dec’d) ’61 (Uncle)
Obituary & related links
Date reported: October 20, 2023
By Robin Gordon, Jed’s mother —
Some of Jed’s fondest memories at Williams included his 3am hip hop radio show, and senior year, bringing graffiti NYC artists (including the noted ‘Pink’) for a presentation. He also treasured his Blue House group of friends.
After college, Jed spent several years at the Paradise Valley organic farm in Marin County, CA. While in California, he developed a love for mushroom foraging. One of the pictures below shows Jed’s hand holding morel mushrooms that he foraged just two weeks before his passing (which he referred to by the Native American term, ‘walking off’). He spent his last three years increasingly disabled by diabetes which he contracted at age 8.
Jed wrote the following two poems describing his approaching death, which he faced so very bravely, at his home in Wisconsin adjacent to the Courte d’Oreilles Ojibwe Reservation, where we’ve established a scholarship fund in Jed’s memory.
Oyster Mushroom/Full Moon (written 6/28/18)
Why do some find such peace,
when death near?
While others run more scared
until their last breath?
Perhaps it’s the lives they livin’?
Bow out with grace, honor,
wisdom and dignity,
After the oak tree,
come the oyster mushroom.
After the sunset,
full moon.
Walked off (written 11/26/20)
Walked off,
home to happy hunting grounds,
rather,
gone to gather
in fruitful forage forest,
sail away,
to other shore,
spiral high within the thermals,
Red Tailed Hawk
Turkey Vulture,
Golden Eagle,
await you there…
–Jed, joyful abider in the woods
By Deb Gordon, Jed’s sister —
Jed K. Gordon was a lover of peace, justice, unity, and life in its myriad forms. Hip-hopper, wordsmith, forager, farmer, and friend to all. Jed signed his writings, “Jed K. Gordon, joyful abider in the woods and the neighborhoods.”
Jed was a deeply sensitive human who cherished life and this planet, and made every moment count. He loved it here.