RIP....GORDON

In hearing of Gordon's death from his father this afternoon, it makes one stop and think about a lot of things. Gordon began with me as a college planning client at the ripe age of 17. Just a junior in HS, Gordon was the kind of kid that you instantly liked. VERY considerate, VERY respectful and just a genuine great kid.
See, Gordon did what a lot of students do and that is he changed his major after his freshman yr in college. He also changed schools from Mechanical Engineering at Rose Hulman to Economics at Purdue.
Some month's back, Gordon came in and asked if he could intern for me. He said that he really liked what I do for families and thought it was what he would like to do when he graduated.
What an honor....to be admired for what you do!
Gordon started in the office this summer and he instantly added something special to the team. He came to work with a suit and a smile. It was yes, sir...no sir...to everything (you just don't get that these days from his generation). A sign of his upbringing to be sure!
I would give him something to read each week to learn more about finance, sales, relationships, ect.. and he eagerly devoured it! He soon began to come in with ideas of how he was going to use some of the concepts I was teaching him when he "got some money"...
As I am writing this entry, my eyes are blurry from the tears and my heart is breaking for his parent's. What it must be like to loose a child early but even more so with a young man like Gordon. I can honestly say that the world is worse off by this particular loss!
Just friday, he was looking forward to the day he could by a mortorcycle & get a newer car because his had 200K miles on it. He was not complaining but just looking forward to his future. I comented that when the day comes, he will enjoy his purchases all the more because he would have earned them rather then having them given to him! He agreed.....

You should be so lucky as to know such a young man as Gordon Riley. I know I am.....

RIP Gordon, We will all miss you greatly!

Your Friend and Mentor....

Jon