Alvah Raymond Gordon ¹

   Another name for Alvah was Red Gordon.

   FamilySearch ID: GDZB-2JQ. Find a Grave ID: 234493794.

  Events

• Census, 2 Apr 1930, Thorndike, ME. ¹

• Census, 23 Apr 1940, Thorndike, ME.

• Census, 3 Apr 1950, Thorndike, ME. ²

• Newspaper Article: Penobscot Bay Pilot, 16 Sep 2013. Red Gordon: One man's journey and still learning
by Mary Armstrong
Mon, 09/16/2013
It's a sunny afternoon in August, and I am sitting with Red on his hammock swing in the front yard. A favorite place, he says, "I spend a lot of time here." He continues to talk slowly, with the plastic tube in his mouth, and I listen to the humming sound of his words with a practiced ear. Here is his story:
My story actually began way back in 1938, when I began smoking at the tender age of 9. I'm sure in today's society you would be shocked to hear this, but back then smoking was not only accepted, it was encouraged. It was all over the billboard ads, papers and magazines, telling us how healthy it was.
I continued to smoke throughout my life, and was lucky enough not to develop any complications until one cold day, in February 2001, I started getting a sore throat. Now this was February in Maine, and everyone has a sore throat, so I didn't pay much attention to it until I also started feeling a lump that I couldn't swallow. My wife of 50 years, Jean, suggested that I have it checked out, and since she is generally right about these things, we made an appointment with my doctor for the next week. An exam and tests confirmed that I had cancer of the throat. The doctor called it squamous cell carcinoma, and said I was lucky that it had not spread to my larynx [where the vocal cords are located].
I had the surgery at St. Joseph's Hospital in Bangor, a few weeks later, and was happy to hear that the cancer was contained in the upper part of my throat. There would be no need for radiation, and a full recovery was expected. I continued to smoke! It was a choice that I wish I could take back every day of my life, because a few short years later in 2003, the symptoms returned.
The testing took place, as before, but as my wife and two daughters and I walked out of the hospital that day, it was evident to anyone who passed by us that the news was not good. The cancer had returned, but this time it was located in the middle of my throat and included my larynx. I was going to lose my ability to talk, to sing to my grandchildren and to tell stories of a life well lived on the railroad. I still had so much to share, how could this be real?
I never picked up another cigarette from that day on.
The surgery was risky, especially for a then-74-year-old man, but went better than expected and my life was saved once again. But when all was said and done, I could no longer speak. The next few months were filled with recovery and therapy, as I needed to learn how to talk through an external battery operated vibrator, and a straw-like tube that I put in my mouth to speak. I thought the worst was over, but I was wrong.
Since then, I have been in and out of hospitals unable to breathe. My life has been filled with nebulizers, humidifiers and various masks that cover the gaping hole in my neck, but none of these things help when the air dries out the lining of my throat and the mucous fills my only airway. It's hard to describe what it feels like to have your air suddenly shut off, but I can tell you it's not something I would wish for my worst enemies. The hardest part is the look on the faces of my wife and children, as I am gasping for air and they are rushing me to the ER. Once last winter, I was transported to Boston Medical for an emergency surgery to stretch my esophagus, but due to my age and health risks they were not able to do the procedure. My throat was suctioned out and I was sent home, waiting for the next attack.
Eating is also an issue. Because my throat has been through so much, the opening is smaller than normal, and my wife has to grind and chop almost everything for me. How I long for a big juicy steak and a cold beer some days, neither of which I can have now, as I can't swallow the steak and alcohol dries out my throat.
Then, this past June a miracle happened for me. My throat specialist, Dr. Miller, called me in for an unscheduled appointment. She explained that we were going to meet with a doctor in New York via teleconference, and that she would be explaining about a new device that could possibly help me. After looking at the video of my last endoscopy, where they use a camera to look down my throat, she said that a new device called an HME could relieve some of my symptoms by warming and humidifying the air that I breathe.
The HME is a tiny round cassette that has small filters that collect the moisture and warm air that I breathe out, and adds it to the dry cooler air that I breathe in. This is supposed to keep my throat from drying out, and the mucous from blocking the hole. The cassettes are disposable and need to be replaced every two to three days. I use a plastic sleeve that fits over the hole and just pop it in.
Now, all of this sounded great, but I wondered how something so small and simple could do so much?
That was June and here we are in August, and my breathing seems to have improved remarkably. I still need to use the nebulizer daily, and I still can't eat that steak, but the buildup in my throat seems to be less than before, and I have more energy than I've had in a long time. The real test, of course, will be the cold, dry air that the winter months will bring.
I will always long for the days of barbecued ribs, cold beer and telling my stories, but I have found a new appreciation for life and family. I'm still not sure that this 84-year-old stubborn, Scotsman should have been the first person in Maine to receive this miracle, or how I survived this long to tell you about it, but I do know that I am grateful every day. I gave permission for a video to be made of my procedures, and an interview of my journey, in the hope that more people here in Maine can benefit from this new technology. My prayer is that I can help another person, who has been suffering as I have, to have a better quality of life.
Each year there are an estimated 12,000 new cases, and 3,600 deaths due to Laryngeal Throat Cancer in the United States.
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Written by Penobscot Bay Pilot contributor Mary Armstrong, as told by her father, Alvah "Red" Gordon. To reach Mary, email news@penbaypilot.com.

• Obituary: Penobscot Bay Pilot, 1 Dec 2021, Camden, ME.
Alvah (Red) Gordon was called home to be with the Lord on Sunday, November 28, 2021, at his home in Belfast.
Red, (as he was always called due to his fiery red hair) was born January 17, 1929 in Thorndike, Maine to Ruby Merry and George Gordon. He grew up quickly, and worked at the grain mill in Thorndike as a boy to support his father.
When he turned 18 he was drafted into the Army, and served in the Korean War. He met and married the love of his life, Gloria Jean Palmer, in 1962, and they were happily married for 52 years, until her sudden passing on June 6, 2014.
Red's favorite job was as the Engineer of the Belfast & Moosehead Lake Railroad. He retired after 18 years, but never lost his love of trains.
He was a loving husband, a wonderful Father and a kind human being. His smile was always there even at the end.
He was 92.
He is predeceased by his wife, Gloria (Jeannie) Gordon; son, Dale R. Gordon; parents and siblings.
He is survived by his daughter Mary Armstrong-Bowden and husband Doug Bowden, daughter Tina Gordon Hall and husband Larry Hall; grandchildren Amanda Armstrong Hopkins, Dustin Armstrong and Brett Armstrong Jr.
He had several great-grandchildren that he loved dearly; nieces and nephews.
Red spent his last years at home, with his daughter Tina. She and her sister Mary cared for him with much love and care. He will be missed by all who knew him.
Graveside Services with Military Veteran Honors will be in the Spring, at the Smart Cemetery in Belfast. Memories and condolences may be shared at ripostafh.com.

Alvah married Lenora Nettie Bakeman on 9 Jun 1956 in ME. The marriage ended in divorce on 23 May 1960. (Lenora Nettie Bakeman was born on 30 May 1928 in Castine, ME, died on 17 Jan 2018 in Portland, ME and was buried in Castine Cemetery, Castine, ME.)

Alvah next married Gloria Jean Palmer on 10 Mar 1962 in ME. (Gloria Jean Palmer was born on 3 Apr 1944 in Northport, ME, died on 6 Jun 2014 in Belfast, ME and was buried in Smart Cemetery, Belfast, ME.)