Labor Negotiator Alan Gordon Passes Away at 70

Greenacres resident Alan S. Gordon passed away on January 1, 2016 in New Hampshire. He suffered from multiple system atrophy, a rare neurological disorder and died from a stroke.

Gordon was the executive director of the American Guild of Musical Artists and represented performers from all over the U.S. including the vocalists in NYC's Metropolitan Opera Company and the San Francisco Opera and Ballet. In a 2014 labor dispute with employees at the Metropolitan Opera, Gordon called for open negotiations to allow the press to report on the sessions. When the Met refused he invited reporters to pre-bargaining sessions. The New York Times said that Gordon "had a way of getting under his adversaries' skin and seemed to relish a good battle."

Peter Gelb, the General Manager of the Met said that a performance of the opera would be dedicated to Gordon this month.

Gordon was born on April 22, 1945 and grew up in the Norwood section of the Bronx where he attended public school. He graduated from City College and the Syracuse University College of Law and worked in labor law for the Textile Workers Union of America and the Directors Build of America.

Gordon is survived by his wife Susan of BrewsterRoad, his daughters Elizabeth and Jessica, a grandson and his sister Karen Gordon Marrinan.

A memorial service was held in his honor at the Riverside Memorial Chapel in Mt. Vernon where a tenor from the Met Chorus, Nathan Carlisle sang, "You'll Never Walk Along." Read more about Gordon here.