On Thursday morning Debra Bade shared with us on NewsLib some very shocking and somber news about one of our colleagues, Dana Gordon. Below is Debra’s post and some expressions of sympathy about the loss of a valued member of our profession.
This is a Webcast of her service, which was held on Sunday, April 1st at 11:30 a.m. at the Plaza Jewish Community Chapel in New York City.
Crain’s New York Business, where Dana had been the research editor, published an article about her on April 2, 2012. A subscription is required to read it. The article can be found here.
This is a picture of Dana from her Facebook page along with some pictures from Chris Hardesty, Alice Pepper, and Lisa Bergtraum. Also, via The Barbara Semonche Files, we have a photo of her taken by Ron Larson at the 2004 awards banquet in Nashville. If you have pictures you would like me to include on this page, you can send them to me (Carolyn) at ufriverat@gmail.com. Also, I created a group in Flickr called News_Libraries. I’ll have to send you an invitation to the group and then you can load photos with captions there. Thanks everyone for your contributions to this page.
- Dana Gordon
- Helen Kwong and Dana at the awards banquet in Philly, 2011. (From Chris Hardesty)
- Dana displays an item in the division’s silent auction in Toronto, 2005. (From Chris Hardesty)
- Dana and Gary Price enjoy cold beverages in New York, 2003 (From Chris Hardesty)
- Dana Gordon (from Alice Pepper)
- Dana Gordon (August 2010 by Lisa Bergtraum) Dana and Lisa went to an opening reception at Eataly, Mario Batali’s new store on 23rd Street in NYC. Lisa said, “We attended an opening reception together and got a big kick out of the event, which included free tastings of a myriad delicious foods. Dana was wonderful company, as always; she brought delight and enthusiasm to every experience we shared.”
- Dana Gordon, left, with Newsweek, presenting the Agnes Henebry Roll of Honor award to Gary Price, right, (Gary Price Library Research and Internet Consulting). Photo by Ron Larson (From The Barbara Semonche Files)
From Debra Bade:
Some very sad and stunning news – our dear friend and colleague, Dana Gordon, has died. Many of you will remember Dana from her years with Newsweek and more recently with Crain’s. Dana was so smart, and charming, and accomplished — I know that she has had an impact on many of us, both professionally and personally, and we miss her tremendously.
This is the message on facebook from her husband this morning for those who may not have seen it:
Dana Gordon 1961-2012
Dana Gordon passed away early this morning from cancer. She was my wife. We loved each other dearly and I will miss her terribly. I will post funeral / condolence plans as soon as they are available.
From Carolyn Edds:
Debra,
This is very sad news. I remember Dana as someone who always had a smile on her face and who had lots of energy and ideas for the News Division.
Thank you for sharing it.
From Derek Willis:
I am terribly sad to read this. Dana was a friend and someone who always was thinking of the next thing for news libraries. To not have her voice and presence is a loss for us all.
From Emily Glenn:
This is heartbreaking. I saw the announcement on Facebook this morning and was stunned. Dana was always great fun to hang out with at conferences. My condolences to her husband and family.
From Helen Kwong:
I met Dana at the SLA conference in Philly. I was a student and she was so kind and helpful. I interned for her at Crain’s New York from September to February. She was an amazing boss and a mentor. The research department was in the far corner of the newsroom, hidden behind the mail area. Her smile, cheerfulness and passion for research lit up that corner. It was her reference that got me a job at NBC InfoCenter. Like Shira, I will forever be in her debt.
From Shira Kavon:
I am so very sad to read of Dana’s passing. She was instrumental in my coming to CNN NY 12 years ago. I will forever be in her debt for that.
For those who knew her locally, please pass along any news of where shiva might be observed or where donations might be made in her memory.
From Deborah W. Hillyer:
I was very sad to hear this news. I met Dana when she came to Crain’s New York, in all of our meetings she was always so enthusiastic about research and data, so upbeat, bright and pleasant to work with. I will miss her as a co-worker.
From Leigh Montgomery:
Friends
Dana Gordon is well-remembered as dedicated to advancing professional learning; that she was wholly, inherently motivated in this area is how she lived her life in so many others I’m sure. Including our own – she organized some rigorous seminars specifically for news librarians, new managers, and more. She would refine them, the follow-up would be asking for ideas, what worked, how this could be improved – based on
what was needed to know now.We had a visit together while she was in Boston weekly teaching business research at Simmons GSLIS. We had a long and wide-ranging conversation, and she was brimming with ideas for the students and professors in her other position at the College of New Jersey.
I did say to Dana how fortunate those students were to have her as an instructor. I am grateful now I did so. My condolences to Steve and all of her family and friends; Dana is in the landscapes of many of our memories.
From Kathryn Pease:
Dana was a tremendous colleague, mentor, and above all, a friend. Through the sadness, I’m trying to think of happier times–times when I’d pick her up from the train station on Long Island and we’d spend the day at the beach. That’s what I want to remember right now… I’m so thankful to have known her. She will be missed by so many.
From Eli Edwards:
Debra,
Thank you so much for getting the news out so quickly.
Dana was always a friendly face at News Division events and continually willing to lend a hand. I never had the opportunity to work with her, but her expertise and professionalism shone through, as did her spirit and good humor. Condolences to her family, friends and colleagues …







I knew Dana mostly virtually till I got to spend some time with her at Gary Price’s wedding several years ago. This is so heartbreaking…
This is heartbreaking. She was such a lovely knowledgeable person. She will be greatly missed.
What a lovely person, mentor, professional, soul. I will very much miss seeing Dana at SLA events and send my thoughts and prayers to her husband, family and friends.
This is so horribly sad. I first met Dana when she gave a fabulous speech at the Queens College library school graduation in 2000. We had lunch together a few times over the years. She was so smart and kind and positive, and I learned a great deal from her.
Very sad news. Dana was my client at Newsweek, and we kept in touch through SLA and SLA NY events over the years.
I spent a good part of the evening after the funeral going through old emails and texts from Dana (she LOVED texting–preferred it to voicemail). Amazing how positive and encouraging all of her emails were when I was job hunting. Amazing how many times she read and re-read my resume and cover letters. I knew Dana through a friend who worked at Newsweek, but I really go to know her well during out time of mutual unemployment in 2009. She and I would see each other at SLA committee meetings, and socially in NYC and Long Island. She grew up two towns over from where I now live (and where I grew up), so whenever she came out here, we would get together as well.
What made Dana so special is that her interest in so many things and people came naturally. It is a rare quality and I will miss her forever.
I was deeply saddened to learn of Dana’s passing. I had the privilege of getting to know Dana when she was part of the SLA NY Employment Task Force that I chaired in 2009. Dana’s enthusiasm was inspiring, and her love of the library profession undeniable. I am very glad to have known Dana even if it was only for a few short years. She was a wonderful person, and I will always remember her fondly.
I worked with Dana for many years in the Newsweek library. Enthusiastic, smart, funny, kind, generous, patient and positive, these are just skimming the surface of adjectives that describe Dana. She was always up for a concert, an excursion or tasting a new cupcake. It’s heartbreaking that she’s gone.
Dana was also a very popular trip leader and cycling instructor with the New York Cycle Club. For many years, she worked hard at improving her cycling, and she passed on what she learned to new participants in instructional groups. She and I had our first experience in scouting a new cycling route together. It was a pleasure sharing beginner mistakes with Dana who was always in wonderfully good humor.