Karen Brownsberger Gordon ’79

Karen Brownsberger Gordon ’79 died on June 29 after two years with cancer. Karen was born on August 4, 1957, in San Francisco, and moved to Anchorage, Alaska, in 1965. She graduated from East High School in Anchorage in 1975. During her Dartmouth freshman year Karen lived in Middle Fayerweather with Marina Finch. Throughout college she was a devoted volunteer at Mary Hitchcock, providing play therapy for kids while also meeting her future husband, Steve Gordon ’79. Karen served on the ’79 council, sang in the Glee Club, and was a member of Fire & Skoal. Karen graduated with highest distinction in psychology, also obtaining her elementary education certification. Karen and Steve married right before graduation in June 1975 and moved to Iowa to pursue graduate work. Karen obtained a master’s, then began teaching first grade. After five years they moved to Anchorage, where Karen taught kindergarten and later she and Steve adopted Ben, Amy, Peter, and Laura. Karen next became a full-time volunteer for her kids, her church, and the community. When the kids were older, Karen returned to her beloved kindergarten teaching, winning the BP Teacher of Excellence in 2019. Classmates remember “Karen was completely without artifice and gently and completely honest. Her enthusiasm, empathy, and nurturing spirit made those around her feel supported and loved. She was an enduring force in the lives of her grade school students and the adults whom she led in faithful fellowship.”