Gordy passed away on July 18, 2013 at Summit Hospital in Oakland from complications with his pacemaker surgery. Gordy was born in Alameda and at the age of one he and his family were sent to the Gila Relocation Camp for internment during WWII. After the war the family lived in Sacramento and moved to Berkeley when he was 10 years old. He attended Berkeley High School, San Francisco State College and graduated from Hastings Law School. He spent the majority of his career as an attorney for Sumitomo Bank. He raised his family in and remained a long-time resident of Berkeley until his passing.
He was preceded in death by his parents Kenneth “Osky” and Kazuko “Beatrice” Kono. He is survived by his wife Judy Itatani Kono, son Brandon Kono, daughter Julie Kono-Manning, son-in-law Ronald Manning and grandsons, Ty and Rhys Manning. He is also survived by his brothers George Kono and Gary Kono and many nieces and nephews.
Family and friends are invited to attend a memorial service on Sunday, July 28, 2013 at 3:00 PM at Berkeley Buddhist Temple, 2121 Channing Way in Berkeley.