Gordon T. Bamford

Gordon T. Bamford Gordon Thomas Bamford, of Pennington, died May 10 in St. Francis Compassionate Care Hospice in Trenton. He was 96. Born in Trenton, he was raised there, and in Morrisville, PA. He was a graduate of Morrisville High School. He graduated from the Pennsylvania State University with a B.S. in forestry in 1940 and received a masters degree in forestry from Yale University in 1950. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II in the South Pacific as a First Lieutenant in the 317th Field Artillery Battalion of the 81st Infantry Division. His division notably fought in the battles of Angaur and Peleliu and in the Phillipines, including in the battle of Leyte. In 1945, he was training to be among the front line forces in an expected invasion of mainland Japan; that invasion never came because of the Japanese surrender in late summer 1945. After the war, his division was part of the occupation of Japan. Later in life, he was active in the alumni group of his battalion and enjoyed participating in reunions with fellow soldiers. He served for his entire professional career in the New Jersey forestry services of the state Department of Environmental Protection. He became the New Jersey State Forester in 1975 and remained so until his retirement in 1983. He was elected as a fellow of the American Society of Foresters in 1996, and was a member of other local state and environmental organizations, including the N.J. Soil Conservation Society, and the Pennington Shade Tree Commission. Gordon was an avid skier, who skied until the age of 90. He served as a member of the National Ski Patrol and the Belle Mountain (N.J.) Ski Patrol. A former member of several area ski clubs, including the Trenton Ski Club, he enjoyed numerous skiing trips around the world, including throughout New England and the western U.S., as well as New Zealand. He was a resident of Pennington for 62 years, living in a home he built alongside his father. He was a member of St. James Catholic Church in Pennington, and a member of the Timberlane Bridge Club for more than 40 years. He was predeceased by his parents, Charles and Emma Bamford; siblings Charles Bamford, Marion O'Brien, Janet Nelson and Elizabeth Flynn; wife Julia Galbraith Bamford; and son, G. Thomas Bamford, Jr. Gordon is survived by his wife of 25 years, Claire M. Bamford; daughter Kathleen Craven and son-in-law Robin Craven of Southport, N.C.; daughter Janet Bamford and son-in-law David H. Coats of Pennington; and son David Bamford and daughter-in-law Doris Bamford of New York City. He is survived by six grandchildren: Jamie Holland and her husband Michael of Chapel Hill, N.C.; Peter, Gregory and Julia Coats of New Jersey; and Emilee and Scott Bamford of New York; by one great-grandson, Jack Holland; and by numerous beloved nieces and nephews. He is also survived by two stepsons and their families: Gary and Anne Schall and daughters Brenda, Jennifer, Heather and Allison of Lake Hopatcong, N.J.; and Kevin and Jodie Schall and children Amanda and Brandon, of Williamsburg, VA. He was predeceased by stepson, Brian Schall and is survived by Brian's sons, Connor, Kyle and Harry Schall of Port Jervis, NY. A memorial mass will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 17 at St. James Church in Pennington, New Jersey. The family wishes to express appreciation for the wonderful caregivers who assisted in his care in his final years, especially Connie Gentry. Memorial contributions may be made in his memory to St. James Church at 115 E. Delaware Ave., Pennington, N.J. or to the Pennington First Aid Squad at 110 Broemel Pl., Pennington, NJ 08534. Arrangements are under direction of the Blackwell Memorial Home.

Service:

1:00 p.m. Saturday, May 17, 2014

St. James Church
115 East Delaware Ave
Pennington, NJ