Edward Richard Gordon (Captain Ed) passed away peacefully on Sunday evening, January 7 ^, 2018 at the Anne Arundel Medical Center with his family by his side. Edward was 76 years of age - born to parents Eddie M .Gordon and Mildred Mackey Gordon, both deceased.

Edward is survived by his beloved wife Phyllis Gordon, his three daughters of whom he was so proud: Denise Gordon, Teresa Gordon, and Cathelene Gordon-Bessom, and son-in-law Daniel.  He is also survived by his two beautiful granddaughters, Cecily Harris and Natalie Wilson, and his 3 year old great-granddaughter Lydia Harris.  His great-grandson is due to arrive in late February.

Born and raised in Washington DC, Ed graduated from Eastern High School in 1959.  He served in the Air Force National Guard and was stationed at Andrews AFB from 1961-1967. It was during his service on air planes that his fascination and love of all things aviation began.  He loved airshows and to identify the make/model of any planes he saw flying overhead.

After graduation, he began work at the Potomac Electric Power Company in Washington, DC as a printing press operator.  He worked his way up to Shop Operator and retired from PEPCO after 40 years of service.  He also worked for 30 years part-time doing print work for Hotel Washington, Trinity College, and Roy Heffley's Stationary Store in Washington, DC.

In 1966, he met and married his wife of 51 years, Phyllis Jean Hale. They moved to Cape St. Claire in 1974 to be closer to the Chesapeake Bay. He loved the bay more than anything; to him it was heaven on earth.  Ed was an experienced boater and fisherman and spent countless hours on his three boats: the Phyllis Jean, the Phorcys and finally the Phorcys II.  He and Phyllis shared their love of the water, fishing and partying with their many friends and family members.  He was known among them all as "Captain Ed".

Ed loved all music and at an early age he taught himself to play the guitar.  He loved to play and sing his repertoire of 50's and 60's rock, country, folk and pop music for his family and friends, but played for many others at various events held at the American Legion, VFW, Elks Lodge, and VA nursing homes. He had a deep, rich singing voice and a love of performing that made him a joy for all to see; everyone loved to sing along with Ed.  His love of music expanded to include classical and opera when his daughter Teresa took up the violin at age 7.  Through his support and pride of her, he came to love great opera singers and the great Broadway musicals like Phantom of the Opera and Les Miserables (his two favorites).

Throughout his life he was also an avid sports fan.  In his younger years, he was in bowling leagues, AAA softball, and basketball and enjoyed playing golf and ping pong.  He was a die-hard Redskin fan – and rarely missed attending or watching a game.  He also loved his wife's amazing down-home Southern cooking. He enjoyed watching movies, golf, NASCAR, telling great jokes and playing poker.

Ed and Phyllis are known among all their family and friends as amazingly warm, loving and generous hosts who opened their hearts, their home, their boats and their lives to everyone.  Over the years, Ed has helped to create countless beautiful memories for all his friends and family.  We will all miss Ed's beautiful voice, his sense of humor, his common-sense approach to life, and most of all his generous and loving spirit .

He was a member of The American Legion Severna Park Post 0175, Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks Broadneck Lodge 2608 Arnold and Loyal Order of Moose and Annapolis Lodge 296.

A visitation with Ed's family and friends is being held on Friday, January 26 ^, 2018 from 6:00 - 7:00 pm at the American Legion, Post 0175, 832 Manhattan Beach Rd.

Severna Park, MD 21146. A  Memorial Service from 7:30 -7:45pm will be followed by a "Celebration of Life" until 9:00 pm.

Interment will be held in the Maryland Veterans Cemetery with honors at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, Ed's family would appreciate donations be sent to either of the charities below.

To make a gift in honor or memory by mail:

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation

Attn:  Membership Department

6 Herndon Avenue

Annapolis, MD 21403

By phone:  410-268-8816

Website: https:// www.cbf.org

The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research

Donation Processing

P.O. Box 5014

Hagerstown, MD 21741-5014

Phone:  1-800-708-7644

Website: https://www.michaeljfox.org/