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WHY I GIVE
Seymour, J.D. ’60, and
Susan Gordon
B Y A S H L E Y M C K N I G H T - TAY LOR
Seymour and Susan Gordon are nothing if not dedicated.
Their steadfastness is evident in all their relationships – to
each other, to their daughters, to the St. Petersburg
community, and most especially to Stetson Law.
Seymour graduated from Stetson in 1960, and 10 years later
returned as an adjunct professor teaching domestic relations,
and wills and estates. When Dean Richard Dillon passed
away, Seymour contacted all his classmates to help establish an
endowment for an annual award named for Dillon to be given
to a graduating student.
Last year, he and his wife established the Seymour and Susan
Gordon Scholarship to be awarded to a student with financial
need. Their charitable gift annuity will help Stetson students
in perpetuity. Above and beyond the award and scholarships,
the couple consistently make their support of Stetson known
through annual giving above Dean’s Circle level.
Their “why” is simple:
“I absolutely feel that I owe a debt of gratitude to Stetson,”
Seymour said. “The school gave me a lifetime profession and
opportunity to be an attorney and the dignity that came with
being an attorney.”
Susan agreed, saying that Stetson was and continues to be a big
part of their lives and love story. The couple, who are now in
their 80s, have been married for 63 years. They credit Stetson
with giving them the ability to make a good living, travel and
P H I LANTHROPY
I absolutely feel that I owe a debt of
gratitude to Stetson. The school gave me
a lifetime profession and opportunity to
be an attorney and the dignity that came
with being an attorney.”
— Seymour Gordon, J.D. ’60
raise their two daughters – both of whom have law degrees,
including one Stetson alumna. Stetson has provided a way of life,
such as events and activities at the college, that they aim to repay,
she said.
Seymour has practiced law in St. Petersburg for 60 years in
areas that include real estate, commercial, wills and estates, and
estate planning. He is a past president of the St. Petersburg Bar
Association, an organization that he credits for helping him make
lifelong friends and encourages all young local lawyers to join.
Though they were both born in New York (Brooklyn for
him, the Bronx for her), they didn’t meet until they were both
attending the University of Florida. They settled in St. Petersburg
and found it to be a great city in which to raise a family and
build a profession, but Seymour said it was the many nonprofit
organizations – “the unselfish part of society” – that really made
St. Pete so wonderful.
Civic engagement has always been a cornerstone of their personal
and professional lives. Seymour believes it is especially important
for lawyers to give back to the community because it is the right
thing to do, and lawyers have a duty to share their knowledge of
government and society with nonprofits. He has served on the
executive board of Goodwill Industries, was president of The
Hospice of the Florida Suncoast, has served the Museum of Fine
Arts for over 20 years, including being on the Board of Trustees
and as its president, was president of the Kiwanis Club of St.
Petersburg, and has been active in organizations including the
Suncoasters of St. Petersburg.
Susan served as the executive director of The Science Center of
Pinellas County for 25 years and was a biology teacher in Pinellas
County for many years. She was active in the local, county and
state PTA for 14 years. Susan said the world needs more ethical
people – such as Stetson Lawyers – who stick to their values and
principles, “and we’ll keep giving for as long as we can give” to
help make that possible.