Date of death: May 22, 2020
Elaine “Peppi” Paula Gordon passed away peacefully in her home in Burlington Ontario, on Friday May 22nd 2020, surrounded by her family.
Born in Toronto Ontario to Frank and Eva Gordon (both deceased), she was the youngest of four children. She is survived by her loving brothers Alan (Carol) and Manny (Chris) Gordon, and predeceased by her sister Fern Gordon. She is also predeceased by her mother and father in law, Joseph and Jean Connolly.
She is mourned by many who love her dearly, including her devoted husband Stuart Connolly, her children Katie (Michael), Joseph (Taflyn), Ben, and Adam (Arina), brother in law John (Kim), sister in law Jennifer (Ken), longtime caregiver and friend, Rati Ramratan, and numerous other family, friends and colleagues.
Elaine was born into a traditional Jewish family in Toronto, attended Hebrew Day school and then Forest Hill Collegiate High School in Toronto. She went to University of Toronto to study physical education but was then convinced to try medicine, entering McMaster University Medical school in 1973 where she found her true professional calling.
She met her future husband Stuart while doing internal medicine training at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto. After a year long romance, they set off to Stanford University for post-doctoral training in cardiology where she spent two years doing research and echocardiography. Returning home she married Stuart in Erica Fischer’s backyard and started having children. They moved to a home in north Burlington (where they would live for 36 years together) and Elaine joined Stuart on cardiology faculty at McMaster University in Hamilton in 1985.
Elaine leaves a lasting legacy among the medical community at Hamilton Health Sciences; she taught hundreds of medical students and residents. Among other things, she passed on the importance of careful physical examination to her trainees. Her greatest professional legacy is the Congenital Heart Disease program at McMaster which she founded and developed from modest beginnings. Along the way she delivered exceptional care to thousands of young adults born with congenital cardiac abnormalities. Her devotion, thoroughness and meticulous focus on patient care were a source of inspiration to her colleagues and trainees.
Elaine lived a life that was exceptionally full and rewarding. She raised four children and managed her household, worked full time as a cardiologist, maintained an active social life, all with an incredible humour and energy that was uniquely hers. Some of her pleasures in life included taking long walks on the Bruce trail with her dogs Coca and Molly, singing in the choir at Shaarei Beth El synagogue, and in fact singing along to almost any musical theatre. She loved family ski trips to to Quebec, Whistler, and Big White. She relished summers at Sydenham lake with John, Kim, Jen, Ken and their children, and later cottaging at Lake of Bays. She enjoyed watching and participating in theatre, music and the arts. Elaine was a great host and loved being surrounded by her family and friends. Her Hanukkah parties were famous. She loved to cook for others, and everyone adored her pesto. Elaine loved a good joke, especially jewish humour. In fact jewish life and ritual were a source of great pleasure to her.
At age 55 she was diagnosed with diffusely metastatic breast cancer which she dealt with gracefully and courageously, and lived 10 healthy years where she continued to work full time. Two years ago she suffered a stroke as a complication of her treatment, which left her with considerable physical disability, but did not alter her spirit. Despite the changes to her function, she continued to embrace life and continued to travel; to Rwanda with Stuart, Katie and the Yusufs, where she was carried into the jungle to meet mountain gorillas; to Alaska with Stuart, Ben, Sarah Minden and Steve; and to Whistler where she was almost convinced to try wheelchair skiing. She continued many activities despite being in a wheelchair and having aphasia; trips to the family cottage where she swam in the lake; outings to the theatre, ballet and music; watching Raptor’s games; many dinners with family and friends. Her family remained a lasting joy in her life until the end, and she was looking forward to welcoming her first grandchild in August.
We want to acknowledge the attentive care she received from her doctors, Bindi Dhesey, Bob Hart, Mike Sharma and Michelle Zeller. There are many friends and neighbours who were steadfast in their devotion to her. Rabbi Stephen Wise and her friends at Shaarei Beth El were an ongoing source of strength.
Private family service will be held on Sunday May 24th 2020 at the gravesite at Trafalgar Lawn Cemetery in Oakville Ontario.
Shiva will be held virtually through Shaarei Beth El Synagogue on Monday May 25 at 7 PM (https://zoom.us/j/2934993535 or call in to: 647 374 4685 and use Meeting ID: 293 499 3535. Password: 251140).
A celebration of life will be held at a later date once larger in-person gatherings are permitted.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her name to support Shaarei Beth El Synagogue (http://tiny.cc/DonateShaareiBethEl).
A lapsed friend perhaps, but loved all the same. I remember photographing Elaine and Stuart on their wedding day & again when they were pregnant with Katie.
I only found out that she had passed a few days ago via Roberto Latini, another old friend in Milan, Italy, a cardiology colleague of them both.
If nothing else, this news, albeit belated, emphasizes the importance of sustaining life-long friendships and relationships.
Sadly for me, I failed at this.
Sincere condolences to my old friend Stuart, Elaine’s family, friends and colleagues.
my family were friends of the Gordon family, since at least the 1950’s that I recall. We purchased the cottage next to them at Jackson’s Point, Glen Sibald Beach,
Eva had trusted me to entertain and take some care of Peppi when she was born, and toddled. My background to parenthood by the kindness of Eva, fun with Peppi.
No close contact with the family for years, My family from that area was discussing a great cardiologist, and I came to hear of a grown up Dr Elaine Gordon (Peppi.)
A loss to her family and friends, and the medical community.
My condolences to the family.
i will miss so much at macmaster hospital
dear dr gordon thank you for looking after me for years at the clinc
Dear Stuart, Katie, Joe, Ben and Adam,
Our sincere condolences on your loss. We will miss Elaine’s cheerful enthusiasm, love of life and energy. She helped us feel welcome and help us settle down when we moved to Hamilton. She would advice us on parenting from time to time and we never felt the absence of parents and siblings. I remember how she deeply cared about her patients and I had the privilege of sharing the care of a few mutual patients with her over the years. All of us remember her warm hospitality when we were invited over to the cottage and your home. We will miss her but will remember forever the fun memories we shared with her. Arundhati, Vidhya and Girish.
The Toronto Adult Congenital Heart Disease Team and the Adult Congenital Heart Disease (ACHD) community have lost an inspiring physician and colleague. As one of the co-founders of the Canadian Adult Congenital Heart Disease Network, the founder of the McMaster Adult Congenital Heart Disease Clinic, and a panel member of the first ever published treatment guidelines in ACHD, Dr. Elaine Gordon was a Canadian pioneer in ACHD care.
Dr. Gordon has had strong ties to the ACHD Program at the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre in Toronto for more than 25 years, has shared care of her patients with our team, and has been a valued member of our academic group.
Elaine was a great clinical cardiologist and patient advocate, channeling passion, empathy and dedication. It was a privilege to know and to work with her. We will remember her as a highly respected physician, friend, great clinician and entertainer. She is deeply missed.
We extend our condolences to Stuart, to her children Katie, Joseph, Ben and Adam, and to her extended family.
On behalf of the Toronto Adult Congenital Heart Disease Team:
Dr. Erwin Oechslin
Director, Adult Congenital Heart Disease Program
Peter Munk Cardiac Centre / University Health Network
University of Toronto
Our sincere condolences to the Connolly and Gordon families. I had the pleasure of getting to know Elaine both through our children and “on the mat”; in particular at yoga retreats on Lake of Bays. Her honesty, forthrightness and passion for family and life made her stand out as an exceptional professional and human being. We sincerely hope that many happy memories of this remarkable woman will help to sustain the family at this time.
Dear Stuart, Katie, Joseph, Ben , Adam and Rati and your extended families,
We are so sorry to hear of your heartbreaking loss and send our most sincere condolences to you all. Elaine will be remembered in our hearts as a warm, fun and generous person, with a joyous laugh and a smile that would light up the room. We remember many shared Waldorf events with her at home and at school, Elaine always dove in with gusto and grace and a great sense of humour. She is missed and will be well remembered.
Dear Stuart and Katie I am very sad to hear of Elaine’s passing. My deepest condolences to you and your family. I have very fond memories of interacting with her over the years. She was an extremely bright, warm and caring physician. She had a great sense of humor and it was a joy to be around her. She will be greatly missed.
I have very warm childhood memories of visiting Peppi and her parents at the family cottage at Jackson’s Point; and of visiting her at home just after the births of our daughters and comparing experiences. We didn’t see each other very often, but she always had a warm and welcoming smile for us when the occasion arose. Howard and I wish the Gordon and Connolly families our heartfelt condolences during this very difficult time.
I will miss Elaine greatly. She was a woman with incredible energy and joy for life. She had a gift for conversation and was usually the smartest person in the room. Her care of her patients and advocacy for their needs was exemplary. I had the good fortune to enjoy many nice dinners in Lowville, and at the cottage on Lake-of-Bays, and have many fond memories of these.
Elaine’s determination to continue living and enjoying life these last 2 years was inspirational, as was the love and care that Stuart provided for her during this time.
I am so fortunate to have had the opportunity to have Elaine in my life
We were saddened to hear of the loss of Elaine. Although we met her only a couple of times around the time of Katie’s wedding, she had a presence about her and a smile that was so welcoming. We felt we had known her for years.
Our condolences to Katie, Michael and the entire family.
Dear Katie and family. Your Mom will be missed. Her deep embrace of life through so many challenges ensures she has left an incredible legacy for you and for all who were fortunate enough to know her. Peace to all of you through this difficult time.
My condolences to the family of Dr Gordon. She was always willing to answer your questions and take the time to allow for learning and understanding. I had the privilage of working with her during my years at McMaster on wards 3x/y. May she rest in peace and the family find joy and healing in the good memories and stories that are shared and remembered.