91²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ

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Gordon C. Facer ’41

Gordon attended 91²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ for two years, later describing his break from the school in this way: “Until June 1939, I was well on my way toward becoming a physics major under Prof. Tony Knowlton [A.A., 1915–48]. Then suddenly my fortunes took a different turn when I departed 91²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ for a career in the navy. By July 1942, I was a married navy ensign, joining an ancient World War I four-stack destroyer that could have been right out of Caine Mutiny . . .” Gordon earned a BS from the U.S. Naval Academy, and following the war, was a naval aviator. He went to UC Berkeley, where he completed an MS in radiology. In 1969, he retired from the navy and spent an additional 14 years as a civilian employee in nuclear radiation safety for the Atomic Energy Commission. In retirement he did consulting in the field. “Being a former 91²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ student has always been an advantage to me, even though I’ve been away all these years,” he wrote. “I like to think that my 91²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ heritage has helped me to become a fairly laid-back person, unbothered by most of the silliness that is Washington. Even so, I am far from placid, for I have strong views on our government and country and disagree with majority views on almost anything.” Gordon and his wife, Maryann, had two daughters and a son. His brother, Fred Facer ’36, graduated from 91²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ.

Appeared in 91²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ magazine: December 2015