(Historic) Dan Gordon
From Loren Coleman
Former New York police officer Dan Gordon, 54, passed away on Monday, January 20, 2014.
Cryptozoologist Paul Bartholomew sent along the following in tribute:
Dear Loren,
It is with great sadness that I report the passing of Whitehall’s Dan Gordon.
Dan Gordon was a Whitehall, N.Y. police officer who, along with another officer, reported having a sighting of a Bigfoot-like creature while on duty back in February 1982.
I knew Dan from school and was fortunate to have interviewed him many times over the years. Dan kept his identity secret until 2003, when he appeared on an episode of the Outdoor Life Network’s Mysterious Encounters’ ”The Creature of Whitehall.” In a short segment as an unnamed witness, Dan actually appeared briefly on camera.
His sighting was re-enacted for the History Channel’s Giganto documentary back in 2005, which was the forerunner to MonsterQuest. Dan actually took and passed a polygraph about his encounter for a 2008 episode of MonsterQuest, titled “Bigfoot In New York.”
Dan was one of the most honest people I ever met and he was one of the most credible Sasquatch witnesses on record. He was always gracious when people asked him to relate his experience and it was a privilege to have known him over the years.
He was also interviewed for the Vermont episode of Animal Planet’s Finding Bigfoot.
His encounter was documented in Bigfoot Encounters in New York & New England (2008, Hancock House) page 44:
“Another Remarkable Police Encounter
Three months later, two Whitehall police officers saw something extraordinary while making their rounds, traveling north on Route 22, half a mile from East Bay at the base of Lake Champlain. It was early February: the time was 4:30 a.m. Suddenly they watched in disbelief as a tall hairy creature dashed across the road and ambled up a steep embankment at the base of a mountain. The incident occurred just 100 yards from the Washington County Highway Department Garage. The officers kept their identities secret, fearing ridicule.
In 2005, one of the officers decided to go public. His name is Dan Gordon, a well-respected longtime resident. He said the creature had narrow shoulders, was lanky, and stood between seven-and-a half and eight feet tall and was covered with dirty, mangy, dark brown fur. Gordon was adamant that it wasn’t a prankster. When pressed on the possibility that it may have been someone trying to give them a fright, Gordon responded, ”There’s no way in hell that I could believe this was a man in a fur suit…”
Gordon said it looked like an ape with poor posture, as it slouched. Its arms were long and swung back and forth as it took huge strides. The speed at which it moved was remarkable, and he said ”a relay runner would have trouble keeping up with [it].” Gordon got out of the car and started tracking after the creature, with his gun drawn. Meanwhile, the second officer said he had no motivation to leave the car and was content to watch the proceedings from afar.”
Dan was loved and respected by many and will be sadly missed.
Also, a formal obituary was published in the Post-Star:
January 23, 2014 12:42 am
WHITEHALL — Daniel Marcel Gordon Sr. passed away peacefully Monday, Jan. 20, 2014, at Albany Medical Center surrounded by his loving family.
He was born Dec. 8, 1959, in Glens Falls. Daniel was the son of Joseph and Mary Rita (Forgette) Gordon.
Dan graduated from Whitehall Central School as senior class president in the Class of 1979, where he lettered in football and wrestling. Along with sports, he served as an altar boy for Notre Dame des Victories Church for many years. In 2005, Daniel attained his bachelor of arts degree through an online course of study.
Daniel was employed by Cuomo’s in Whitehall, the village of Whitehall as a police officer and as a Whitehall sewage treatment plant operator. He retired from the NYS DEC as an educator and sewage treatment plant adviser. Most recently, Daniel worked as a tutor for students in Whitehall School’s GED program. Tutoring was his true calling.
Daniel was the founding member of the 18th century Revolutionary War re-enacting group, The Loyal Scots and participated in hundreds of re-enactments over more than 20 years. Additionally, Daniel was the leader of the Color Guard for Galoway Gaelic Pipes & Drum band for many years.
His other interests included his love of family, camping, baking, fishing and singing. He will always be remembered for his undying faith in God, supportive ways, acts of kindness to anyone in need and his wonderful outlook. Daniel’s sense of humor and strength for everything he held dear were among his outstanding attributes.
Daniel was predeceased by his father, Joseph E. Gordon; his brother, Thomas Gordon; and his nephew, TJ.
Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Doreen (Battease Carey) Gordon; his sons, Daniel M. Gordon II and his wife, Jodi, and Leon J. Gordon and his wife, Nicole; his daughter, Brittany A. Short and her husband, Eric; Dan’s stepchildren, Danielle, Caitlin and Kelsey Carey; his mother, Rita Gordon; his brothers, Joseph Gordon Jr. and his wife, Claire; Marty Gordon and his wife, Dot, Andy Gordon and his wife, Evie, Francis Gordon and his wife, Patty and Christopher Gordon and his wife, Patty; and his sister, Rosemary and her husband, Bruce LeBeau. Dan’s beloved grandchildren, who are the true fire in his life, include Isla and Lincoln Short, Phoebe Gordon and Gia McKenzie. Daniel also leaves numerous nephews, nieces, many cousins and dear friends.
Friends may call from 1 to 3 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 24, 2014, at Jillson Funeral Home, 46 Williams St., Whitehall, NY 12887.
A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 25, 2014, at Our Lady of Hope Church, Skene Street, Whitehall, NY 12887, with the Rev. Rendell Torres officiating.
Interment will take place at a date to be determined in the spring.
