Helen GORDON Obituary

To Family of Helen, our sincere condolences to you, she was a great Lady and neighbor to us,
Neil and Elaine.

Thinking of you, Angus and Fenella. What an extraordinary woman Helen was.

Sorry to hear of Helen´s passing.
Just to let you know that our thoughts are with you as you come to terms with the sad loss of dear Helen .
We sure have wonderful memories of time spent together

Helen and I first met when we were piano students studying with Diny Schramm in Wellington. We became lifelong friends. On her return from study in Vienna I became her Honorary manger and arranged two nz tours for her. Initially I sent a news release and photo announcing her return to NZ.
The response was so great that her father observed" Helen in in every newspaper in NZ except TRUTH" !!!

I assured him I was working on that !!

When we scheduled her Wellington debut in the Town Hall concert chamber i was aware that local artists were attracting small audiences.Accirdingly, I proposed sending a formal invitation to all the music society subscribers The result was an over capacity audience and no money spent on advertising .
Helen was staying with my parents in Wellington . When I arrived home the night of the concert I found her in a distressed state indicating that she had over practiced and hurt her arm. A frantic call to a physiotherapist friend who came to the house with all his equipment plus a calming voice . He assured Helen she was perfectly ok but even came with his equipment to the concert just be be sure . It was a tremendous success and numerous other successes followed . I was with her when she recorded the Strauss Burlesque with the then National orchestra .
I brought the only recording with me to Wellington when I saw Helen at a pre Covid concert given by our mutual friend Janis Cegledy . She drive down from Taihape for the occasion . We also stopped into see her on various trips to nz. Sadly we were unable to have her come and perform here but we kept in touch via emails .
Helen has enriched our lives .
Sending Arohanuis to all the family from Heidi and me.

Iain.B.McKay MNZN
NZ Consul
Salt Lake City, USA

[email protected]

Elen lives in my heart and mind as a warm hearted friend, with positive, cheerful personality. She was a treasure to know and so she remains in my memory.

For a few years I would come up from Lower Hutt, maybe two or three times each year, to sing with Helen's choir, The Arcadian Singers. Helen and her choir were the most welcoming, kind people to share music with. And her piano playing was outstanding. Such a wonderful person.

Helen was an incredible teacher and woman. Sad to hear such a kind sole has passed. I´ll fondly remember my piano lessons with her, and her patience as I was "helping" her for a college work experience day in the family´s massive garden!

So sorry to read this news.
My sincere condolences.

Mark and I are thinking of you all at this time.

Very sad to learn today of your passing. Thankyou for your music and you commitments to Taihape. You will be surely missed by so many.