Gordon Newton Leinwand, 83, of Pawling, NY died on August 15, 2017 after an accidental fall. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ben Leinwand and Sadye Miller Leinwand, his sister, Rosalyn Leinwand Gittleman, and his close friends Veronica Smith and Sydney Smith, Sr. He is survived by his nephew, Neal Gittleman, his cousin Stephen Miller, and his dear friends in the Smith family, Sharon Smith-Geter, Lewis Geter II, Lewis Geter III, Malachi Geter, Elias Geter, Sydney Smith II, Thomas Smith, Cece Smith, Thomas Smith II, Gray Smith, Glenda Smith, Opal Smith, Tim Woelk, and Tim Woelk, Jr.
Gordon worked for many years as a milieu counselor at Linden Hill Residential Treatment Facility in Hawthorne, NY (now the Sally & Anthony Mann Center), where he helped hundreds of young people with severe psychiatric conditions. He was also an avid musician who loved to play the piano and the trumpet. He performed with many Dixieland and Swing jazz groups and particularly enjoyed his opportunities to play with the great clarinetist Sol Yaged. Gordon also loved photography and many outdoor activities, including, at various times in his life, camping, kayaking, and cycling (both motor- and bi-).
In his younger days, Gordon served in the U.S. Navy as a Radioman on the U.S.S. Parker, and, later, in the Naval Reserve. His ashes will be interred at the Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers or donations, please do this: Take yourself out for a nice evening at a restaurant, bar, or club that has live music (preferably Dixieland). Have a good time and leave a generous tip for the musicians. Before you go home, do something completely selfless for someone in Gordon’s memory. And when you get home, make sure your bathtub or shower has non-slip material and grab bars!
