Paul Gordon Remembered for 'Life-Altering' Ways

Fran Gordon locked arms and eyes with Araceli Vidal and actually managed some tears of joy, quite a feat after losing a husband three days prior in a senseless car accident.

Fran's husband, Paul, taught physics at Syosset High School for 18 years. Vidal, one of his former students, graduated in 1998 and now teaches at Jericho Middle School. 

The two women had never met before Friday morning at Gordon's Jericho home, but instantly they were kindred spirits thanks to Paul. Fran knew how her husband's unique teaching style–dressing up as Indiana Jones ("Indiana Gordon") among them–endeared him to his students.

Vidal knew that Paul Gordon only had one passion that could compare to teaching–the love he had for his "Frannie."

"He always talked about how he told her he was going to marry her on their first date," Vidal said. "She said he was crazy. He said, 'Yes, I am crazy, but I'm still going to marry you.'"

Paul and Fran were married for 41 years before last Tuesday, when an apparently impaired Jeremy Weckerle of North Babylon crossed into the wrong lane in Old Brookville and struck Paul's car. Fran knows the pain of court proceedings are coming down the line, but for now, "I've chosen not to give that person any of my energy." 

Even in tragedy she says there's still a lot to celebrate. 

"Everyone's life has an effect on others," she explained, "but some lives touch others in a more significant way, in a more life-altering way."

In Paul Gordon, who was 65 and retired from Syosset High in 2001, those ways are almost too many to list. When it was time to explain the doppler effect to his students, Gordon rolled trumpet-playing Syosset High music teacher Larry Ballereau down the hall on a cart. A trajectory lesson meant going outside to throw frisbees and softballs–even after a school window got broken in the process.

"He just made it fun; he made it real," Fran said.

Vidal said Paul Gordon wanted his students to have success without missing out on life. He's the one who convinced her not to miss out on a family trip to Hawaii while she obsessed over AP courses. He's the one who assured her family that if they were supportive of Vidal's scholarship to Vanderbilt, "She would always come back to you."

Paul shared that philosophy with his wife, never minding when she'd take her exotic solo treks to places like Peru and Nepal. Just as he loved riding his motorcycle, he wanted people to find their path. That ideal was exemplified by two players he coached while winning a PSAL baseball title at Park West High School before coming to Syosset.

The two players, Devon White and Benny Castillo, came to town as soon as they heard of Paul Gordon's death.

"He told them to try their best to make it in baseball, but he made them promise if they didn't that they'd get their degree," Fran Gordon said.

White made All Star Games and won World Series rings. Castillo made it to Triple-A.

"But Benny went back and got his master's and teacher certification at 35," Fran said. "Paul was just as proud of Benny as he was of Devon." 

Paul Gordon coached JV baseball at Syosset, going into his own pocket to buy bouquets for his players' moms to teach them about being appreciative.

He never shared to show his appreciation to Fran, either. At last Thursday's funeral "The Poor Man's Valentine," which Paul wrote for his wife in 1975, was read. He listed her qualities and concluded that she was the "bestus" wife in the world.

"All things being equal, after reading over this list, I guess I'm not such a 'Poor Man' after all!"