Taylor Alexander Gordon, beloved son of James Austen Gordon III, and Katherine Coleman Gordon, passed away on Monday, May 13, 2013, in a motorcycle accident. He was born at Good Samaritan Hospital in West Palm Beach, FL, on August 22, 1981. Taylor loved the martial arts, his motorcycle, and languages. He is the youngest of three brothers, and is survived by his two brothers, Jimmy Gordon (Michi Tsunoda), and Dylan Gordon (fiancée Cristabel Rivera). Taylor was home-schooled, and is a graduate of the North Alabama Friends School in Huntsville. He attended the prestigious Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City, part of the State University of New York system, before returning to Alabama to pursue a degree in Foreign Language as a part of the International Business curriculum at UAH. He was a member of the UAH Dean's List, and assisted other students in the Language Lab. His lifelong love of martial arts began in Huntsville, where he studied Kung Fu. He shifted to mixed martial arts, and studied at an MMA school founded by his oldest brother Jimmy, and later headed by his brother Dylan. At age 19, he moved to San Francisco and began studying Brazilian Ju-Jitsu under two of the Gracie brothers. He moved to Brooklyn to attend FIT, and continued his BJJ training at the Lotus Club, winning the New Jersey State BJJ Championship in his category.
Taylor was an intelligent, thoughtful, and multifaceted young man. He will be missed and mourned by his friends and family for many years to come.
A memorial gathering in Taylor's honor will be held at the home of his parents on Saturday, May 25, from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Friends of Taylor are welcome to come. Berryhill Funeral Home is assisting the family.