2016
Gordon E. Schiller – 80 – of 1479 Chestnut St., Hornell, died early Friday morning (March 19, 2021) at St. James Hospital following a brief illness.
Born in Batavia, NY on October 7, 1940, he was the son of Gordon & Elsie (Behrens) Schiller and was raised by his maternal grandparents, Frederick & Catherine Behrens.
Gordon grew up in Geneva, NY and was a graduate of Geneva High School (class of 1959). He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from SUNY Geneseo.
From 1963-1964, Gordon taught 6th Grade at Dansville Elementary School and from 1964-1968 taught 7th Grade Math at Middlesex Central School in Middlesex, NY. In 1968, Gordon moved to the Hornell area and for the next 27 years served as 7th Grade Math teacher for the Hornell City School District. He retired in 1995.
While attending SUNY Geneseo, Gordon became a member of the Phi Sig Fraternity and throughout the years maintained close friendships with many of his fraternity brothers. He enjoyed reading and collecting “Juvenile Series Books” such as Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys, Chip Hilton & Ken Holt and occasionally wrote articles for the “SUSABELLA PASSENGERS”, a publication on juvenile series books. He also owned an extremely large collection of vintage yearbooks, primarily from places close to his heart such as Hornell, Geneva, Geneseo, and Arkport.
Gordon was a Pepsi aficionado as he not only savored his ice-cold Pepsi, but collected all things Pepsi. He enjoyed the outdoors and in his younger years loved to go “woodchuck hunting”. He was a devoted father and “family man” who never missed his daughters’ soccer & basketball games, track meets, and other school activities. Without a doubt, he was their #1 Fan!!!
In addition to his parents and grandparents, Gordon was preceded in death by his half-brother, Frank Schiller.
He was married on December 17, 1983 to the former Joanne Canestra who survives. Also surviving are 2 daughters, Bethany Schiller of Trumansburg, NY and Jill (Mike Lepelstat) Schiller of Hornell; sister, Patricia Schiller of Geneva; half-sisters, Audrey (Barry) Panepento of El Mirage, AZ and Bette (Keith) Wright of Valrico, FL; a large extended family, and many friends.
The family of Gordon E. Schiller will receive friends on Friday, March 26, 2021 from 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM at the Dagon Funeral Home, 38 Church St., Hornell, NY. Private services will be held at the convenience of the family with Deacon Robert McCormick officiating. Final interment will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery.
The Memorial Service for Gordon Schiller will be streamed via YouTube and can be viewed on the Dagon Funeral Home Facebook page on Saturday, March 27, 2021 at 11:00 AM by visiting www.facebook.com/dagonfuneralhome. The video will remain available for viewing on our Facebook page for 30 days.
The family of Gordon Schiller would like to thank the doctors, nurses and the entire staff at St. James Hospital for the wonderful care and comfort that they provided. It was greatly appreciated!
Gordon’s family request that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in his name be made to the Hornell Public Library (64 Genesee St., Hornell, NY 14843), or to the restoration of the Phi Sig Fraternity House (Phix Associates, C/O Mike Schmidt, 2 Greenfield Lane, Rochester, NY 14610). Memorial forms will be available at the Dagon Funeral Home.
Brother Schiller was a universally ‘loved’ member of Phi Sig. As one of the leaders of the early days of our fraternity, Gordon’s influence on the values of the Brotherhood was immense. Respect for others and service to those needing a ‘hand up’ were hallmarks of this gentleman and gentle man! Gordon Schiller will be missed, but his legacy lives on!
My sincere sympathy and prayers are with the Schiller Family at this difficult time. May the memories of the happy times you shared with your loved one help to bring peace to your grieving hearts.
I wish to express my very sincere sympathy in the passing of your dear husband, father, and brother. I was a classmate of his at Geneva High School (Class of 1959) and I am a very good and dear friend of his sister (Pat) in Geneva, NY. We talk and converse frequently on the phone. May God Bless all of you at this difficult time. Nancy Taylor, Geneva, NY
Gordy was my fraternity brother.
Highly respected, considerate, contemplative, a
great human being.
He will be long remembered.
With condolences to his family and our sympathy.
J. Peter Gregoire
Romulus, NY
Geneseo, class of 1963