Gordon W. Dowds ’74

Gordon died Feb. 22, 2026, in Las Vegas at the age of 73.

After Princeton, he earned a medical degree from New York Medical College and completed a residency at County USC Medical Center in California. In his early career, Gordon was a partner in the West Valley Pulmonary and Sleep Disorder practice in California. He was known for taking his work seriously, showing up when people needed him most, and never shying away from difficult cases. In 2015, he began working as a locum tenens physician, traveling to whatever location needed his expertise. This continued through the COVID pandemic, where his skills fulfilled a dire need. His Facebook posts showed a poignant mix of dedication to his profession and frustration at the overwhelming scale of the pandemic.

Outside of medicine, Gordon loved to cook with a particular skill at sourdough bread. He loved the quiet comforts and familiar rhythms of home. He was previously married to Mindy Dowds, the mother of his children. He is also survived by his current wife, Anat Shabo; his children, Andrew Patrick Dowds, Tracy Vitellaro, Jill Welshans, and Robin Dowds; seven grandchildren; and siblings Curtis Dowds and Mary Anne Amitin.