Gordon Frederick Comstock, MD passed away on October 25, 2019 at the age of 76 from Acute Myeloid Leukemia.
Born on January 27, 1943 in Miami, Florida, Gordon was the first child of epidemiologist George Wills Comstock ’37 and community activist Margaret (Karr) Comstock.
Gordon met his wife and life partner, Ginger (Virginia) Kelly ’66, at Antioch College in Ohio, where he majored in Chemistry and the Maples Volunteer Fire Department.
Gordon joined the Peace Corps, teaching math in Ghana for two years before marrying Ginger on July 27, 1968. Gordon studied medicine at Case Western Reserve University and completed his residency at University of Rochester/Highland Hospital Family Medicine Program.
From 1980 to 2018, Dr. Comstock practiced family medicine in Arcade, NY, serving the area’s youngest to oldest residents with patience and respect.
Always an Eagle Scout, Gordon believed in leaving his campsite — and the world — better than he found it. He dedicated his life to service and teaching. Gordon was originally contracted for two years in a doctor shortage area, and because of the people and the community spirit, he and his family chose to stay in Arcade.
Gordon mentored numerous medical students in family medicine at his office and then took them home for dinner.
From 1989 to 2017, Gordon made 29 trips to La Laguna, Honduras as a part of NY/HELP mission. He inspired Ginger, both daughters, and at least eight community members to travel with him, and they were supported by countless others. Both Gordon and Ginger have been continuously active with NY/HELP, and Gordon became the medical director. He learned Spanish to communicate with the clinic nurse and patients, graciously accepting language corrections and retranslations. Learning from and serving the people of the La Laguna region were sources of joy for him.
In addition to his medical and mission work, Gordon could often be found with his nose in a book, mowing the lawn at his church, ensuring the high school football players made it safely off the field, or admiring the Arcade & Attica trains.
Gordon and Ginger raised two daughters, Barbara Comstock-King (Daniel King) of Lebanon, CT and Kimberly (Geoffrey [Morton]) Mortstock of Seattle, WA, and adored their three grandkids, Margaret “Maggie” and Elizabeth “Ella” King and Calvin Mortstock. Gordon is also survived by his brother Lloyd Comstock (Judy Kramer), sister Martha (Daniel) Williams, three nieces, and his step mother, Emma Lou Comstock.
Calling hours will be at WS Davis Funeral Home, 358 W. Main St., Arcade, NY, on Friday November 8, 2019 from 2-4pm and 6-8pm. A memorial service will be held at Arcade UCC, 297 Main St, on Saturday, November 9, 2019 at 11 am. Donations may be sent to Arcade UCC (PO Box 95 Arcade, NY 14009) or NY/HELP Honduras (PO Box 551 Dewitt, NY 13214).