Gordon John Broom. Jr.

Gordon John Broom, Jr., age 72, passed away on November 17, 2024. Gordon was born in Cleveland, Ohio on December 27, 1951. He later lived in several states, namely Parma Heights, Ohio, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Houston, Texas, Fort Lauderdale, Florida and Palm Beach Gardens, Florida before finally settling in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Gordon and I met a long time ago when we both lived in Houston Texas. He was a prison nurse at the time. I didn’t understand why he enjoyed it so much. He said “they need my help.” He went to the Veterans Administration Hospital and later transferred to the local VA Hospital when it opened. He thought everyone needed to take their turn in paradise. he was an activist for human rights and especially gay rights. Things were going well until at the age of 54 he received a diagnosis of early onset Alzheimer’s, EOA. no one knew much about it other than it was bad. very quickly he announced he did not want to just have disease. He wanted to do something about it. It changed both of our lives as we became research subjects and national advocates for the Alzheimer’s Association. Hopefully this was to a good effect as his advocacy continued until that ungodly disease took its toll and ended his life.

Gordon was predeceased by his parents, Gordon John Broom, Sr. and Mary Taylor Broom; his brother, Donald Broom; sister, Darlene Kellerman and nephew, Douglas Broom. Gordon is survived by his spouse and friend, Larry Jordan; his brother, Theodore Douglas (Relinda) Broom; brother-in-law, Dick Kellerman; sister-in-law, Sarah Broom; nieces, Sheri Burbank, Jamie Broom, Pamela Margroff, Lisa Washburn and Cindy Kellerman; nephews, Douglas Broom and Timothy Kellerman. Gordon will be also be lovingly remembered by other family members and many friends who will miss him dearly.

A Memorial Service officiated by Fr. Paul Rasmus will be celebrated at 1:00 PM on Thursday, March 20, 2025 at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, 100 North Palmway, Lake Worth Beach, Florida. Gordon will be laid to rest at South Florida National Cemetery in Lake Worth, Florida.