Support Maurice Gordon and his family

On Monday October 17th, a man by the name of Maurice Gordon was nearly taken from this world by a still yet unidentified assailant in his home in the Rainier Beach area of Seattle, Washington. The news has portrayed this as just another shooting in what continues to be a city-wide outbreak of gun violence.

What the news can't tell you is what this particular man has and does mean to his family, the community, and the world as a whole. This is what everyone should know about Reese Gordon. It is that despite his diverse ethnic background and familial ties, he has strived throughout his life to overcome the challenges of being from both white and black heritage by representing them both with equal respect and pride. His grandfather George Gordon, a World War 2 veteran and fierce promoter of racial tolerance and intellectual discipline, instilled this in him at an early age. Teaching Reese everything from hunting and fishing in his early days in the Dakota's to the benefits of learning how to feed and grow one's family off the fat of the land and fruits of nature, the benefits of responsible money management and the value of a good education.

He also encouraged every pursuit of betterment that Reese showed an interest in growing up. No matter whether it was his obsession with tennis, baseball, basketball, football, soccer, dirt bikes, skateboards, and his fascination with dance, art, writing, poetry, literature or the music of everyone from Bob Marley to Run DMC and Information Society, he never failed to commit himself with passion.

Though Reese was a black child raised in a white family, his mother, aunts, uncles, cousin's and grandparents always reminded him that love sees no color and he was love incarnate in the image of all his roots.

Growing up in places like the Dakota's, Pleasanton, California, Oakland and eventually Seattle, Reese would not lack exposure to a variety of cultural influences. This shaped him into someone, from his formative years at places like Renton High School to becoming a popular and well-loved member of the community that today marks the spot where he nearly lost his life.

Now as a father of 3 and soon to be 4, we are charged with the task of acknowledging a man that for so many years labored in humble silence to take care of his family and loved ones by never leaving them to fend for themselves without him. On that fateful night, as both protector and provider, Reese was only doing what was normal for him in being at home to care for his ill mother while living for another day to serve, grow and contribute to the society he's always fought to see more loving inclusive and equal.

Today, anyone who knows him will tell you that he is never without a kind word, a word of encouragement, a dollar for the homeless, a smile for the sad, or a helping hand to anyone in need. To know him is to know that he is a proud man, a generous man, and a man that would never ask for help if he had it within his means to do for himself. Today we don't ask for charity; we ask for compassion for someone who means something to many. Not just to his family and loved ones but our world in common, our society and our many struggling communities.

If people of this ilk and value are left to survive such trauma and tragedy alone, who will be the pillars reminding us of our better selves? We only ask that you search your conscience and ask yourself, where would the world be without individuals that represent the very spirit of love, commitment and loyalty like Reese has and we pray will continue to.

As both caregiver and breadwinner for his family, it is difficult to imagine the impact the loss of his strength and work ethic will have on his family emotionally and financially. The economic impact is still relatively unknown due to very little in the way of medical insurance. However, being a man of steadfast faith, we can expect him to fight with all of his might to recover the strength to resume what, due to the trauma, may never be a normal life again.

With respect to that, we are all committed to his full recovery and if nothing else, we will hold in our hearts the deepest gratitude for every offering and prayer.

That being said, if you made it to the end of this lament, then you know how deeply we feel for, love and value Rees Gordan as a grandson, son, brother, cousin, nephew, father, husband, comrade and friend.

And if your heart is moved, then in his short time here, he's once again touched yet another life for the better.

Thank you

JL