Gordon T. Law, Jr

Gordon T. Law, Jr. died at his home in Cayuga Heights, NY on 3 December 2021.  He was born in Norwood, MA on 27 October 1945, the son of Gordon Theodore Law, Sr. and Laura Anderson Law. 

A former history teacher at Mynderse Academy in Seneca Falls, NY, he became head of reference and information services at Cornell University’s Catherwood Library in 1972.  He remained there for eleven years before being named director of the Management & Economics Library at Purdue University.  In 1993, his work was recognized by Purdue's Moriarty Award for Excellence in Library Service. He returned to Cornell as director at Catherwood in 1993 and retired in 2010.  During his tenure as director, he oversaw the redesign and transformation of Catherwood, creating a facility that would serve the needs of students, researchers, and practitioners in an information environment undergoing dramatic change.  He was co-author/editor of two books, several journal articles, and edited the national bibliography in the field of industrial and labor relations for ten years. 

He graduated from DeRuyter Central School in 1963 and graduated cum laude from the University at Albany in 1967.  The following year he completed a masters degree in social sciences and later a masters in library science in 1972.  Both graduate degrees were from the University at Albany.

He is survived by his wife of 31 years, Pam Baxter, a brother David of Seymour, CT, and a sister Sandra Almeida of Deltona, FL.  His eldest sister, Barbara Ward of Canton, MA predeceased him in 2011.

Gordon was well known for his love of classical music, knowledge of opera, commitment to Cornell's School of Industrial and Labor Relations, and penchant for bow ties.  The size and scope of his classical compact disc collection were, in a word, substantial. In his younger years, Gordon embarked on annual camping trips to the Adirondacks.  As solo camping became more difficult, he turned his attention to a growing garden of rose bushes. He held dear a specific tribute received from a member of the faculty: that he brought a sense of humor as well as grace to the library and institution.  Gordon was an optimist:  difficult times would pass, the present was filled with opportunities to do good, and the future held all manner of possibilities.

In accordance with his wishes, there will be no service.  In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the ILR Library Fund at Cornell University, Ithaca, NY.

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