My dear Gordon.  I wish you a safe passage to heaven and that you should know how much you meant to so many people. You were a light in this world. 

You made all the difference in my life and my son Ben who you taught. We loved you and looked up to you and laughed with you. I can’t believe I can’t share another story or another question with you. 

You will be in my heart forever and forever. 

Deanna 

I've known Gordon for 60 plus years. He cut a hole in my sweater in the 1st grade with a pair of paper scissors.  He sat behind me. His mother bought me a new one.  He is the one who inspired me to learn how to play the guitar. At one of our many sessions ,our friend Joe Springer had just got a new guitar.  Gordon could hardly wait to get his hands on it. He picked it up and bent the neck and it broke in to. The air left the room. What could you say?

I can still see him driving one his dad's dump trucks. What to do without him. He will be missed. He was a good friend. R.I.P  Gordon R.I.P.......

In memory of our dear friend Gordon Rowland. May 5, 1950 — Sep 13, 2025. We discovered Gordon's passing this month.

Marcus and I both met Gordon when he was passing through Mount Shasta on a way to a concert and ultimately to see his relatives out of state. We were having breakfast with our dear friend Aida, who also has passed from our planet home. Gordon had stopped by to see Aida and met us. He came in with his guitar and gave us this amazing classical guitar concert right there at the kitchen table. We were in heaven.

Since then, I have done a couple of concerts with Gordon, one with our friend Lauren in Oregon. Gordon also supported our nonprofit LUTEA to play at our first fundraiser when we were based in the Mt. Shasta area, and then came to do an at-home concert for our friends here in Crescent City. We planned another concert for last year, but I broke my leg and Gordon had some health concerns, so we canceled it. Gordon made himself available during the winter solstice; he seemed to enjoy our gatherings. We hold him dear in our hearts during this time of year as we near the winter solstice.

 Not only was Gordon an amazing classical concert guitarist but a profound, joyful and effervescent spiritual sage that lived by his ethical wisdom. We were honored and blessed that his genuine presence touched us. A gentleman with the gentlest and most loving soul. We miss you Gordon, all of us Marcus, Auggie and myself and we pray for your perfect journey through the Milky Way back home.  Our sincere prayers and blessings to his dear family. 

We are so grateful to have spoken to Gordon just days before my grandpa entered hospice passing on Sept.5.  

He, and grandpa  were inspirational in every way it is a bit of a double loss. But I am hoping they finally got to meet!

I was sad to hear of Gordon's passing. We hadn't been in contact much in the last few years.  I knew his time was short but I hesitated and didn't get to talk with him again. He was a great friend and music partner. I enjoyed his wacky sense of humor and zest for life. I always think of him and will miss him.

Doug Wendt

My daughter Faith and I met Gordon in July 2024. Faith's 1st guitar lesson. An instant connection between them... His ability  to create such a stress free, fun, learning environment and his teaching style was perfect for Faith.   Her last lesson was July 16, 2025.   Gordon called me the following Monday to tell me that he was not well... that a tumor was found on his pancreas.....  my heart sank.  He was so special, so kind, funny, brilliant. One of a kind.  I am selfish... wishing he could have blessed this Earth and our lives for many more years.  But, he reminded me that his Faith was unwavering and he gracefully accepted his limited time here.  We kept in touch and I was always touched by his words and spirit. The way he tried to comfort me and tried to prepare me.  His last message to me was for my daughter Faith on Sept. 13th which I realize was his last day on Earth.

Gordon you will always be in our Hearts and memory. We send our love and heartfelt condolences to your family and friends.  Rest in Peace

Love, Diana and Faith Eriksen

Gordon taught my son Ben for a couple years in Novato. Here was my response to his emails, sadly sent after his passing.  Gordon was a teacher in every way:  

Dearest Gordon

It’s September 22, 2025, the day before the evening of the Jewish new year, the beginning of what is called the High Holy Days.

And on this day, I don’t actually know if you are still here with all of us, or if you have , in your words , made the “transition into greater life”. My sincere wish is that it is the former!

Your two emails are so powerful, so stunning, so elegant, so difficult, so uplifting – a description of your own dilemma in the most meaningful way. Thank you so much for sharing all of it with Ben and I. As a medical doctor I live in full awareness of the situation in which you find yourself. As a traveler walking together in life with you, I am awed by the position of your heart, mind and soul in the medical situation in which you find yourself – your profound understanding of, in the words of U2: “You're packing a suitcase for a place none of us has been. A place that has to be believed to be seen.”

Medically and mechanically I’m so happy that you are getting all you need from both family and your local Hospice. And through it all, spiritually you are reaching out to form connections with and for us all, all the while magically drawing in all those connections for yourself . It’s remarkable Gordon.

In this wild ride called life we connect and disconnect with so many during a lifetime. Some we connect with feel instantly special, like meeting with a person who either understands or feels life at another level, and who offers life with a power and tenderness that is unique. Since the time that Ben and I met you, I have felt this way for you. Whether it was listening to the way you play your music, and speak so clearly and magnificently through the notes and your fingers; or the way you spoke to Ben, understood my son, and shepherded him into the world of guitar music; or just sharing a few minutes of being, together, and hearing about ‘your Ben’. It was palpably clear that you possess a unique and wonderful way of being. I was so grateful we were put together for a moment.

And now in this most poignant time of your life- and most would call it tragic or difficult or overwhelmingly sorrowful- you manifest your fearless faith and enlightened sensibilities by wishing and offering connection, not separation, and the seeming miracles that come from such a posture, at such an ultimate and definitive crossroads in your life on earth. When I was a freshman and sophomore in college, 50+ years ago, my friends and I were of course, searching for the ‘meaning of life’. One midnight at Lake Travis in Austin, a 20 year old young man contemporary of mine from Puerto Rico named Cucho Paravisini declared that he had ‘figured it out’, that he knew the meaning of life! We all held our breath in anticipation, as he told us what he had figured out as life‘s meaning, in a very thick Latin accent: “ It (life’s meaning…) is only a matter of meeting and being with those who we will meet and be with in the coming times”. Of course that seemed so simplistic and we were skeptical and generally unimpressed.

And now Gordon, you bless us so with these emails, and your pleas for connection and faith and forgiveness. Your incredible clarity validates Cucho‘s youthful wisdom, remarkably as you face the finality of this lifetime. I’d just like to put forth that I think you’ve actually always known this in your heart and soul, and it is that essence that I have felt from you so strongly and so deeply and so lovingly from the first time we met. Thank you for the depth of your understanding, for your sharing, for your boundless caring and connection, and for the Love that doesn’t die with any of our passings.

If you are in need of anything I would be honored to help you. As I’ve been honored to read your words and hear your Music!

Love

Ben and Barry

Ben,  Mandy and Chris, I've just learned of Gordon's passing today and was so very saddened to hear this news. Karla and I thinking about you all.

 If there was ever an example of an exemplory person that lived a selfless life, smiling and laughing, serving and playing for his community and giving a musical home to so many others,  it was your dad. He was one of the most influential people in my musical life.

We will all miss yoy Gordy~

We love you guys

Chris and Karla Yeaton808-960-1026