With great sadness, the the Georgetown community said goodbye last fall to former Professor Richard Alan Gordon, who died October 23, 2003. Gordon, 75, had retired in 2002 after having taught at the Law Center for more than 40 years.
     Gordon specialized in contracts and entertainment law and also taught courses in jurisprudence and

torts. In 1977, in response to students’ requests, he developed a new seminar in entertainment law – one of only four such seminars offered at U.S. law schools at the time. In 1995, he was named Alumni Professor of Entertainment and New Media Law.
In addition to his teaching and scholarship, Gordon also served for numerous years as assistant dean of the Law Center and as president of Georgetown’s Faculty Senate.
     Many alumni fondly remember Gordon’s theatrical style in the classroom (which led to his casting in the very first Georgetown Gilbert & Sullivan Society production) and the high standards he demanded of his students.
     “I can say from experience that the man who terrorized us by strictly following the Socratic method was in reality a sweet, gentle soul who wanted only to begin the process of turning lumps of clay into lawyers,” said Anjali Kumar (L’92).“His words stay with me to this day:‘The law is not neat and clean. Don’t be afraid to get in and get your hands dirty.’ It took me years to figure out what he meant and that he was right.” “No other professor had a more profound impact on my development as a student of the law and as a lawyer,” said Paul Wright (L’69).“I remember his classes as if they happened yesterday.What he taught me then, I’m sure I’ll use again tomorrow.”