Error message
OFFICE/DEPARTMENT
It is with heavy hearts that we share the news that Gordon Ring, former East-West Center Alumni Officer, passed away on Monday, January 25, 2021. His wife Milly and his son Gordon were with him at his bedside.
“Gordon always exerted positive energy, good humor, and total dedication to the Center and especially to its alumni,” said EWC President Richard Vuylsteke. “Gordon and I became close friends in the 1970s; I was best man at Gordon and Milly’s wedding; and one of my most anticipated expectations when I returned to Hawai’i in 2017 was to rekindle our close friendship. Gordon, with Milly’s unfailing support, was a fighter to the end in his battle with Parkinson’s. His humor still surfaced despite all the challenges of the past few years and he loved his conversations and storytelling with EWC friends. Gordon was a model of what unqualified friendship and institutional dedication can mean. We will miss him dearly. May he rest in peace.”
Gordon came to the East-West Center as a degree student. He received an EWC scholarship in 1963 and affably enjoyed the many aspects of the EWC student life. He eventually earned his master’s degree in Chinese History and stayed in Hawai‘i to teach. In 1969, he joined the EWC Public Affairs Office and in 1983, Gordon began a 10-year stint as Alumni Officer. After a brief interlude away from the Center, he returned in 1999 to retake his position as Alumni Officer.
Gordon had seen the Center since “before the buildings were built.” He was here during the evolution of the Center from its initial three institutes for students, research, and development to five substantive institutes, and through its many subsequent stages of development. He was here during the Center’s incorporation into the collaborative public nonprofit entity it is today, and he led and served the alumni through numerous conferences and reunions. He retired from the Center in 2011 and enjoyed his much-deserved retirement with Milly and their cats. Gordon was beloved by everyone who knew him at the East-West Center and the many alumni around the world. Those who would like to share a message, memory, or story about Gordon with his family may do so here.
It is with heavy hearts that we share the news that Gordon Ring, former East-West Center Alumni Officer, passed away on Monday, January 25, 2021. His wife Milly and his son Gordon were with him at his bedside.
“Gordon always exerted positive energy, good humor, and total dedication to the Center and especially to its alumni,” said EWC President Richard Vuylsteke. “Gordon and I became close friends in the 1970s; I was best man at Gordon and Milly’s wedding; and one of my most anticipated expectations when I returned to Hawai’i in 2017 was to rekindle our close friendship. Gordon, with Milly’s unfailing support, was a fighter to the end in his battle with Parkinson’s. His humor still surfaced despite all the challenges of the past few years and he loved his conversations and storytelling with EWC friends. Gordon was a model of what unqualified friendship and institutional dedication can mean. We will miss him dearly. May he rest in peace.”
Gordon came to the East-West Center as a degree student. He received an EWC scholarship in 1963 and affably enjoyed the many aspects of the EWC student life. He eventually earned his master’s degree in Chinese History and stayed in Hawai‘i to teach. In 1969, he joined the EWC Public Affairs Office and in 1983, Gordon began a 10-year stint as Alumni Officer. After a brief interlude away from the Center, he returned in 1999 to retake his position as Alumni Officer.
Gordon had seen the Center since “before the buildings were built.” He was here during the evolution of the Center from its initial three institutes for students, research, and development to five substantive institutes, and through its many subsequent stages of development. He was here during the Center’s incorporation into the collaborative public nonprofit entity it is today, and he led and served the alumni through numerous conferences and reunions. He retired from the Center in 2011 and enjoyed his much-deserved retirement with Milly and their cats. Gordon was beloved by everyone who knew him at the East-West Center and the many alumni around the world. Those who would like to share a message, memory, or story about Gordon with his family may do so here.
