Obituary of Gordon I. Ulmer

Gordon I. Ulmer Jr., 79, passed away Saturday, February 4th following a brief illness. Born in Brattleboro, Gordon was proud of his Vermont family roots where he, along with his father Gordon Sr. and his brother Jan and the Barber cousins, was a locally familiar ski jumper and a New England champion. Moving to Connecticut in 1957, Gordon joined the Connecticut Bank and Trust Company (CBT) where he ultimately served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. He served as President of the Bank of New England Corp., the holding company of CBT from 1988 until his retirement in December 1990. Gordon also served on the Board of Directors for the Hartford Financial Services Group Inc., Hartford Life Inc., Rayonier Inc., and the Old State House Association. He was Honorary Chairman of the Sammy Davis Jr. GHO in 1982. Gordon is a graduate of Middlebury College, the American Institute of Banking and the Harvard University Graduate School of Business Administration Advanced Management Program. Gordon's greatest life achievements are that of a caring father, grandfather, uncle and friend who loved his family very much. He loved hiking, gardening, fishing for brook trout, bird watching, kayaking, skiing, snowshoeing and most of all, his grandchildren Alex, Cait, and Kiera. Always unique with experiences, Gordon introduced his two sons to trout fishing "bushwacking" in brooks throughout the deep woods of the Northeast Kingdom, Vermont. He loved taking his grandchildren for special trips and hikes to his favorite New England spots including "Bear Country" and sharing his knowledge of nature, history and art. Always a teacher, he blessed all family and friends with thoughtfulness and compassion. He is predeceased by his mother, Margaret (Nichols) Ulmer, his father Gordon Ulmer, his sisters Shirley Olivo and Judy Valente, and his brother, Lt. Jan Allen Ulmer. Gordon is survived by two children: Gordon Ulmer III and his wife Audrey of Lyme, CT and Craig Ulmer and his wife Janine of Shrewsbury, MA. Gordon leaves three loving grandchildren: Kiera Ulmer of Lyme, CT and Alexander and Caitlin Ulmer of Shrewsbury, MA and several nieces and nephews. He also leaves his former wife, mother of his two sons, and best friend Sandra (McKeon) Ulmer of Newark, VT. There will be a private family service. In celebration of Gordon's life, please join Gordon's family Saturday, February11th at 1:00-4:00PM at the Fox Hopyard Golf Club, 1 Hopyard Road, East Haddam, CT. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Gordon's name to Shriners Hospitals for Children, Connecticut Hospice, and the United Churches of Durham, CT.