Gordon Bruce Pfitzer

Gordon Bruce Pfitzer, an educator and school principal, died unexpectedly at his home in Chino Hills, California, on September 26, 2016 at the age of 56.
Gordon is survived by his wife Gabriela Ortiz, his son Ian Pfitzer-Ortiz, his brother Gary Pfitzer of San Francisco, California, his brother and sister-in-law Gregory and Mia Pfitzer of Saratoga Springs, New York, and his sister and brother-in-law Margaret and Terry Mullins of New River, Arizona. He is predeceased by his parents Emil and Jeanne Pfitzer.
Gordon was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on December 11, 1959. He graduated with a B.A.in Cultural Anthropology from Grinnell College (Grinnell, Iowa), where he undertook a semester of study in Costa Rica. He also earned an M.A. in Public Administration in Bilingual Education from the University of Michigan, Flint, and an M.A. in Educational Administration from California State University, Los Angeles. He was a devoted teacher and school administrator, having worked in public schools for more than 30 years in Durango, Mexico, and in the Los Angeles area. For the past 12 years, he was principal of Merced Elementary School in West Covina, California, where he was beloved by teachers, staff, and students for his devotion to the job and his willingness to do whatever was necessary to provide schoolchildren with a safe, healthy, and productive learning environment.
Gordon had an engaging personality, and his many friends were attracted to him because of his loyalty, his generosity, and his kindness. He had a lively sense of humor and an exceptional ability to make people laugh. He was a gifted cartoonist, a practice he employed in bilingual classrooms as a visual learning device and in illustrated greeting cards that he sent to family and friends.
Gordon was a community leader, having served in many local capacities. He was an Eagle Scout and held various scouting posts as his son progressed through the Boy Scout program. He liked to bike, camp, travel, sing, and entertain. He will be deeply missed by his family, friends, and all who knew him.
A funeral service is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. on Friday, October 14, at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church, 14085 Peyton Drive, Chino Hills, California. The funeral service will be followed by a reception at a location to be announced. A rosary vigil is also scheduled for 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 13, also at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Giving Web, a local nonprofit organization. In honor of Gordon, 100 percent of all October donations to The Giving Web http://www.thegivingweb.org/. will fund participation in a school science camp for Merced Elementary School students in need.