Freedom to Read Foundation Trustees, Members, and Staff Mourn Passing of President Gordon M. Conable
It is with great sadness that we tell you that our friend and colleague Gordon M. Conable, President of the Freedom to Read Foundation, died unexpectedly on Wednesday, January 12, 2005, as he was preparing to attend the FTRF Board Meeting at the ALA Midwinter Meeting in Boston. Gordon was an unsurpassed champion of intellectual freedom, a wise and generous mentor to many, a consummate librarian, and a true leader of our profession. He gave many years of dedicated service to the Foundation, serving as Treasurer, Vice-President, and seven years as President.
Gordon was executive vice president for public libraries at Library Systems and Services (LSSI) in Riverside, CA. He was responsible for management and performance of LSSI's public library contracts, including the 30-branch Riverside County, CA system. He was previously director of the Monroe County Library System (MI), where he stood strong for the principles of intellectual freedom, never so much as in 1992, when he weathered an intense controversy over Madonna's book Sex. Before that he was associate director of the Fort Vancouver Regional Library in Washington. Above all things, Gordon cherished and adored his wife, Irene, and their son, Ted. Our thoughts and prayers are with them.
Gordon M. Conable Memorial Fund
The Foundation has established a fund in Gordon's name, which will be used to advance the causes to which Gordon was most devoted and for which he worked most passionately. Irene has asked that any gifts in Gordon's name be directed to this fund.
You can donate to the Gordon M. Conable Memorial Fund by calling Jonathan Kelley at (800) 545-2433 ext. 4226, or contacting him at jkelley@ala.org. Alternatively, you can send a check, payable to the Freedom to Read Foundation, to the Gordon M. Conable Memorial Fund, c/o Freedom to Read Foundation, 50 E. Huron St., Chicago, IL 60611. To give online, click the GIVE BUTTON below, select "Donation (non membership)" in the first drop-down menu, and click "yes" when asked if you would like to make your donation a tribute. Notification of gifts will be sent to Gordon's family.
Links Related to Gordon's Passing
Memorial Resolution Honoring Gordon M. Conable (American Library Association Memorial Resolution)
Publishers Saddened at News of Gordon Conable's Death (Association of American Publishers)
LSSI Mourns the Unexpected Death of Gordon Conable (LSSI press release; PDF)
Free-Speech Champion Gordon Conable Dies (American Libraries obituary)
Gordon Conable Dies, Was ALA Councilor, FTRF President, LSSI VP (Library Journal article)
Gordon M. Conable, 1947-2005, Librarian backed free flow of information (Toledo Blade obituary)
Gordon Conable, Sign and View Guest Book (Riverside Press-Enterprise obituary)
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