The skanner., April 09, 2014, Page 4, Image 4

Obituary
In June, 2012, the Portland City Council voted unanimously to rename Portland PP&R’s University Park Community Center in honor of Charles Jordan.
Beloved Civic Leader Charles Jordan, 1937-2014
Courtesy Portland Parks & Recreation
Portland Mayor Charlie Hales issued a mayoral procla-
mation April 9, honoring the late, beloved Charles Jordan,
Portland Parks & Recreation director and City Commis-
sioner, who died last Friday at the age of 77.
Jordan’s son Dion, a Portland Parks board member, was
on hand to accept the Mayor’s proclamation.
“Thanks for all the love, condolences and support you all
have shared with me and my family,” said an emotional
Dion Jordan as he addressed the Mayor and City Commis-
sioners. “My father…was something special.”
“His great saying was ‘Parks are more than just fun and
games,’” says Michelle Harper, who worked with Jordan
for years in several capacities. “He is a spiritual person with
a strong connection to his church, and he saw us all as being
connected. Portland’s parks were where we could come
together to build community and family.”
Recalling a conversation with his father from a few years
ago, Dion remembered Charles Jordan reflecting on his
life’s work.
“He said, ‘I never set out to do all this. I never set out to
accomplish the things I’ve done’,” recalled Dion. “He said
he only wanted to do one thing, and that was the right
thing. That he wanted to treat everybody right, love every-
one unconditionally, and then he felt like his life would be
meaningful. And it has been.”
Jordan helped bring more than 40 new properties into the
now nationally-recognized and widely admired PP&R sys-
tem, including Pioneer Courthouse Square, the Vera Katz
Eastbank Esplanade, Delta Park, East Portland Community
Center (the most utilized in our system) and Southwest
Community Center. He was instrumental in obtaining the
funding for several large, key renovation projects through
the major and much-needed 1994 Parks bond. And he
secured the funding to revitalize the center that now bears
his name, Charles Jordan Community Center - which serves
an area of town that benefits greatly from the center’s huge
variety of low-cost, high quality health and recreation offer-
ings.
Jordan’s memorial service will be private, for family
only. The Mayor ordered all City flags to fly at half-mast
from April 4 (the day of Jordan’s death) through Saturday,
April 12.
‘Today you follow, but tomorrow you will be expected
to lead.’
Jordan was Portland’s first African-American
City Commissioner, here pictured with fellow
Commissioner Mike Lindberg.
Jordan first moved to Oregon in 1970 to work
with the federal Model Cities Program, working
with local civil rights groups including members
of the NAACP.
Notable Charles Jordan quotes
‘Model the way – you never know who is watching
and wanting to be just like you.’
“What people don’t understand,
they won’t value; what they don’t value,
they won’t protect; and what they
don’t protect, they will lose.”
“Today you follow, but tomorrow
you will be expected to lead.”
“If change is to be, it’s up to you and me.”
“Dreams are simply goals with wings.”
“Don’t let anyone steal your joy.”
“Take good care of yourself
and you can care for others.”
“We’re more than just fun and games.”
“Develop a passion for something
and do it well.”
“Model the way – you never know who is
watching and wanting to be just like you.”
As Parks director, Jordan massively
increased the city’s parklands, and
unveiled new signs on the Wildwood
Trail in Forest Park.
Page 4 The Portland and Seattle Skanner April 9, 2014
The Charles Jordan Community Center dedication featured a
special honor from the Native American community.
PHOTOS COURTESY PORTLAND PARKS & RECREATION