Rootstown trustees honored John “Flash” Gordon, a longtime township firefighter and teacher, who died March 16.
Gordon served Rootstown for 31 years as a firefighter. He taught Rootstown high school students for 38 years, most recently focusing on government and psychology. He was honored as the Rootstown Township Lions Club citizen of the year in 2003 and 2004.
Trustee Dave McIntyre recalled having Gordon as a teacher when he was in high school, when Rootstown’s Fire Department was a volunteer organization.
“When the call would come in, he would leave school. When the pager would go off he’d go running out of the building. That’s where the nickname Flash Gordon came from,” McIntyre said. “What a great mentor and a great person he was. He will be missed by the community. He did a lot for the fire department and the community.”
More from the meeting:
- Recent dry and windy weather has trustees cautioning residents against burning leaves, or if they do, “just be careful. Fires are spreading fast,” McIntyre said.
- The township’s road department is busy with the annual spring cleanup at Rootstown’s cemetery and park. Unlike many nearby communities, Rootstown does not have a spring cleanup program for residents.
Wendy DiAlesandro is a former Record Publishing Co. reporter and contributing writer for The Portager.
