Gordon Chambers Davidson died peacefully on August 8, 2026, surrounded by his family.
He was 98. Ask Gordon how he was doing on any given day and the answer came back the same:
“Splendid!” and he meant it.
Born on October 27, 1927, Gordon was raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He graduated from
Milwaukee Country Day School, now the University School of Milwaukee, in 1945 at the age of 17.
Following graduation, like many of his classmates, he entered military service. Stationed at Great
Lakes Naval Station, he served as a Navy medic. Following the war’s end, he was tasked with
bringing wounded servicemen home to their families. After his naval service, Gordon attended Yale
University, earning a B.A. in Economics in 1951.

As a college graduation gift, his mother sent him to Europe aboard the SS Île-de-France. She
instructed him “pack your tuxedo” — you never know who you might meet.” This proved to be sage
advice. Slipping up to first class, Gordon danced with a very attractive and vivacious professional
tennis player from San Francisco named Barbara Scofield. Six weeks later, Gordon and Barbara were
wed in what was then Spanish Tangiers. The newlyweds embarked on a European honeymoon that
lasted several months and included stops at a number of international tennis tournaments where
Barbara competed, including the French Open and Wimbledon. At Wimbledon, the young couple
had the honor of meeting Princess Elizabeth who soon thereafter was crowned Queen of England,
It was the start of a lifetime of travel, friendship, and family. They were married 72 years. Barbara
died in 2023 at the age of 96.
As newlyweds, Gordon and Barbara settled in Cambridge, Massachusetts where Gordon attended
Harvard University's Graduate School of Business. He graduated in 1953 with an MBA and the
couple moved back to Gordon’s hometown of Milwaukee where he began his 40-year career at
Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company (NML) .
Gordon’s contributions at NML were many and significant. In 1973, he was elected as Vice President
of Real Estate, where he pioneered important changes that would later provide significant financial
gains and rapid growth for the company. In 1980, he became Vice President of Securities, where
Gordon led the company’s acquisition of two major investment firms and oversaw more than $5
billion in company investments. In 1987, he was elected Senior Vice President, a position he held
until his retirement. Retirement lasted only a few days before he joined Lubar & Company Inc.
What his colleagues will remember about Gordon is how he led. He handed responsibility to junior
associates, backed them, and gave them full credit. Many of the people he recruited went on to senior
leadership roles in the company. Along the way he built lasting friendships across the real estate and
financial communities nationwide.
Over the decades, Gordon served on many corporate boards and generously lent his time to a great
number of non-profit boards.
To his friends, he was “Gordie”. Golf in the summer, paddle tennis in the winter, every Saturday with
the Pig and Paddle group. Was he a great athlete? He was not! Was there a martini at the end of the
game? Yes there was! He and Barbara enjoyed a wide and devoted circle of friends, ladies and
gentlemen both. They were reliably the last couple on the dance floor, both in Milwaukee and at
their second home in Palm Beach!
To his grandchildren, his little great-granddaughter, and all their friends, he was “GC” and he loved
nothing more than taking them out to dinner on any given night. He is survived by his children Gigi
V. Davidson of Honolulu, Michael G. Davidson (Russell Cooper) of West Palm Beach, and Gabrielle
S. Davidson (Dr. Robert Lyon) of Milwaukee; his grandchildren Gage, Haley (Talis Bennet
Verschure), and Kylie Davidson; Madeleine (Coley Martin), Mason (Camille Suro), and Maxwell
Lyon; Jenya Davidson; and his cherished great-granddaughter Tatum Bennet-Verschure. He was
preceded in death by his wife of 72 years, Barbara Scofield Davidson.
Gordon was endlessly optimistic, pleasant, and uncomplaining. He never had an unkind word for
anyone. His friends will remember his undying loyalty. He loved his life, his family, his friends and
thoroughly enjoyed his work and colleagues. In short, he had a long and wonderful life.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Prevent Blindness Wisconsin, FASD Communities