In Memory of Rev. Dr. John Fordon (1925−2025)

We offer our condolences to the family and colleagues of the Rev. Dr. John Fordon, who died on October 4, 2025, at the age of 99.

John was born on November 21, 1925, in Chicago, IL, to Walter Fordon and Jane Fordon. His parents were non-denominational liberals. From 1943 to 1946, he served in the U.S. Army, in the Cavalry and in the Finance Department, and in the Pacific Theater of Operations during World War II. During this period, he began attending the People’s Church of Chicago and became a member in 1946. Inspired by his involvement, his parents later joined the Unitarian Church as well.

After his military service, John joined the University of Illinois, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry in 1950. While studying Chemistry, John felt a call to ministry. His desire to become a minister grew from two fundamental asks: a desire to work for and with people, and an innate quest and curiosity to explore the borderlands where natural science, theology, and social science meet. He believed that ideas and knowledge were meaningful only when created and developed in a community. The UU ministry offered him that opportunity. The warmth, humanism, and freedom he found in Unitarian Universalism, along with the sincere practice of ideas expressed from the pulpit, became a source of intellectual stimulation, a social center, and a home away from home. Through his experiences at the church, he learned applied Unitarianism and decided that the liberal ministry would be his vocation. In 1952, he received his Bachelor of Divinity from Starr King School for the Ministry. He later earned a Doctor of Theology degree from the Central School in 1961.

The Rev. Dr. Fordon was ordained to the UU ministry on February 13, 1953, by the Unitarian Society of Fort Wayne, IN, where he served from 1952 to 1955.  He then served as an associate minister at the First Unitarian Church of St. Louis, MO, from 1955 to 1956.

From 1955 to 1961, he served as a chaplain in the US Air Force. During this time, he also held civilian leadership roles in St. Louis, including serving as an associate director of Jewish Hospital (1956–1959) and director of Government and Foundation Relations at Washington University, St. Louis, MO (1959–1961).

From 1961 to 1964, the Rev. Dr. Fordon served as an Associate Director of Development for the UUA. He was vice president for Emerson College, MA, from 1964 to 1967.  He later served as a consultant to the Muttontown UU Fellowship in East Norwich, NY (1982-1991) and as a consulting minister for the UU Society of South Suffolk, Bay Shore, NY (1989-1996). Furthermore, he was a part-time minister for the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Orange County, NY.

In addition to his parish and community ministry, the Rev. Dr. Fordon served the denomination in numerous leadership roles. He was chairman and treasurer for the Unitarian Unviersalist Fellowship of Ipswich, MA. He served as a board member of the New York Metropolitan District of the UUA and chaired its Extension Committee. He was a consultant and a speaker for various fellowships across Long Island and Metro New York and was an active member of the Long Island Area Council. Additionally, he was president of the American Council of Executives in Religion.

Alongside his ministerial and denominational service, John was self-employed as principal of John Fordon & Associates, where he provided financial analysis and planning services and operated a private financial counseling practice.

In the wider community, he served as vice president of the St. Louis Chapter of the American Association for the United Nations and as a board member of the Nursery Foundation of St. Louis (an inter-racial day-care program). He was an active member of several professional and civic organizations, including the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the Public Relations Society of America, and the St. Louis Citizens’ Committee for Nuclear Information.

In his leisure time, he enjoyed camping, folk music, reading, and “do-it-yourself” projects. He truly enjoyed meals that people made for him and raved about them as if they came from the fanciest restaurants.

John’s daughter Karen shared,

“I remember growing up with civil rights songs playing on records and Martin Luther King’s ‘I Have a Dream’ poster hanging up in our house. It seemed to me that a significant reason my father enjoyed speaking as a Unitarian Universalist minister for most of his life was that he had a pulpit to engage people in social justice. One of my dad’s favorite words was ‘engagement’.

He was open and supportive of friends and family members in the LGBTQ community and was one of the fastest people to use the correct pronouns with them.

He loved being a lifelong Unitarian Unviersalist.”

John is survived by his daughters, Nancy Guardia, Karen Newell, Susan Fordon, and Kathy Olszewski; his sons, Jeffrey Fordon and Doug Fordon; and his stepson, Phillip Reed. He is also survived by two nephews, David Fordon and Wayne Fordon; a niece, Alyssa Schoenemann; several grandchildren; Jody Sadowski, Tracey Heinze, and Dorris Strange, whom he considered family, along with his loving neighbors. 

A private family gathering will be held to celebrate his life.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Environmental Defense Fund.

Notes of condolence may be sent to Karen Newell, 86 Chesham Rd., Marlborough, NH 03455.