H. Roy Gordon impacted many in the Aquaculture Industry and dedicated his services for many years on the Aquaculture Development Committee. The following was provided by the California Aquaculture Association (CAA) staff in remembrance of H. Roy Gordon.

Lived 91 years in near perfect health from April 15, 1932 through December 14, 2023. He walked at the same energetic pace when he was 91 that he did when he was 51.

A charismatic, kind, and genuinely friendly man. A dedicated husband, father, Uncle, and dear friend, to so many.  He is survived by his loving wife, Gail F. Gordon, and his two sons H. Roy Gordon III, and Douglas F. Gordon. Roy was born in Flossmoor, Illinois, and went to college at The University of Illinois. After working with his brother, Al, in the furniture business in Chicago he joined the Air Force. Roy was bolstered with patriotism after World War II, and he joined the military ranks of his two older brothers, Al who was a decorated pilot in the Army Air Corps, and Ernie, a Radar specialist in the Navy, Roy became a Lieutenant in the USAF and was responsible for all of the wine buying and distribution for Officer Clubs in Europe.

After meeting the love of his life, Gail, a wedding singer, coincidentally at a wedding is where they first fell in love and soon after married, Roy went on to become VP at LB Foster Steel Company where he opened the West Coast branch in Hayward, California. He was instrumental in the acquisition of The Rock island railroad track dismantling project. After retiring from the steel business in 1979 he decided that with his love of fly fishing he would explore aquaculture farming. After completing his studies, he found the perfect site in Bodega Bay, California. There he developed the first land-based Steelhead farm in the United States, Bodega Farms. He and his wife Gail worked together to farm organic Salmon, and from that, a Gravlax product that went to market all over the San Francisco Bay area, and the US. With an extensive knowledge of fish farming and aquaculture he later became a global consultant in aquaculture at his company, Fishtech. Roy assisted in developing fish farms in Scotland, Australia, and Venezuela. Also creating a joint venture with a company in Mexico that they appropriately named, CalMex, where he joined forces with abalone divers and a canning Company to sell their Abalone product to China.

Roy loved Bodega Bay where he lived for his last seven years with Gail. The farm that he created is adored in the landscape below their house. Together they shared a true connection to the land and sea. Roy will be so dearly missed by all, but his spirit will always live on by the coast he called home in Bodega Bay, California.

Farewell, and never goodbye. We will hold you in our hearts forever.

Love, your family and friends.