Gordon F Nary 1935 - 2025
- Mike Jones
- Feb 22
- 4 min read
Updated: Mar 14
In this moving homily for the Memorial Mass of Gordon Nary (1935–2025), Father Joe Chamblain reflects on a life characterized by deep faith, intellectual curiosity, and a relentless commitment to social justice.
A Life Rooted in History and Faith: Father Joe begins by contextualizing Gordon’s birth in 1935, a time of the Great Depression and the introduction of Social Security [01:15]. He connects Gordon’s baptism in Aurora to his "final trip to church," emphasizing that Gordon’s true value came not from productivity, but from his identity as "God’s beloved" [03:15].
A "Man of Many Careers": Having known Gordon for 20 years, Father Joe recalls Gordon’s diverse professional life and his role as the first webmaster for the Assumption community [05:43]. He describes Gordon as a visionary who "never made small plans," viewing a parish website as a "literary marketplace" for intellectual and theological exchange [06:09].
Advocacy During the AIDS Pandemic: A central theme of the homily is Gordon’s pioneering work during the early years of the AIDS crisis [07:10]. At a time of intense fear and stigma, Gordon was a vocal advocate, working with physicians and appearing at the Vatican and in Washington to ensure patients were treated with dignity [08:13].
Passions and Final Projects: Father Joe highlights Gordon’s later passions, including Catholic Profiles—an online journal featuring interviews with Catholics from all walks of life—and his unique Cookbook of the Saints, which combined hagiography with recipes and film recommendations [10:07].
A Legacy of Compassion: Even as his health declined, Gordon remained focused on the marginalized, once asking Father Joe for a prayer for people involved in a bus accident in Uganda, proving that no person was too obscure for his concern [11:18]. Father Joe concludes that Gordon is now "free from the infirmities of age" and enjoying the kingdom promised at his baptism [13:37].
Memorial Mass for Gordon F. Nary March 11, 2026
Please join the Nary family in celebrating the life and faithful journey of Gordon F. Nary. A Memorial Mass will be offered in his honor, providing an opportunity for friends and loved ones to gather in prayer, share memories, and commend his soul to God.
Assumption Catholic Church, 323 W. Illinois Street, Chicago, IL 60654
Original Obituary Publication - November 25, 2025
Gordon Frances Nary, editor and publisher of Profiles in Catholicism, passed away just around midnight on November 19th, 2025.
Gordon was a dedicated artist, publisher, and advocate in public health and for social justice. Among his many contributions toward advocacy include his online journal Profiles in Catholicism and previously the journal for The International Association of Physicians in AIDS Care.
Gordon was born January 13, 1935 in Aurora Illinois, to Frank Nary and Helen Nary, nee Wesso. He was the oldest of three children, and deeply cared for his two sisters, Marcia Helen Vasquez, and Sandra Louise Nary.
He was a student at Marmion Military Academy, where he played football, and completed his undergraduate work at Loyola University in Chicago during the Korean War. Gordon went on to complete his post-graduate work at DePaul University.
Among his early vocational adventures, Gordon worked as a “shamash” at an Orthodox Jewish funeral home, an assistant metallurgist making 90-millimeter shells during the Korean War, and an insurance agent. He dabbled in advertising, creating iconic designs and copy, before he dedicated himself fully to being an artist, exhibiting locally at the Old Town Art Fair in Chicago, IL.
It was Gordon’s early advocacy for patient-centered care in the AIDS Pandemic that led to his founding in 1987 of the Physicians Association for AIDS Care (PAAC), the first organization supporting U.S. physicians treating AIDS patients. He later started The International Association of Physicians in AIDS Care (IAPAC) and published its highly-regarded journal. Through these entities, Gordon influenced early AIDS policy in the U.S. and internationally. This included providing testimony before Congress regarding the care of women and children with HIV in the United States. He also traveled extensively as an advocate, including to Ukraine to help train physicians to care for people with HIV/AIDS.
He is survived by his nephews and nieces, including Michael Jones (Susan Jones), Bruce Jones, Marita Vasquez, Paul Vasquez, Susana Vasquez (Daniel Winter), and Michael Ryson-Vasquez.
His taste in music, books, cinema, art, and cooking continues to live on in his many grandnephews and grandnieces including Camille Jones, Emma Jones, Laila Cespedes, Daniel Cespedes, Val Cespedes, Jared Charnes, and Paul Vasquez, Nathan Vasquez, and Joe Vasquez.
He was a devoted Catholic and attended mass at Chicago's Ascension Church. He was cared for by many within the Catholic community including Catholic Charities, Little Sisters of the Poor, and many close friends who visited him at the Chicago Hattie Callner Apartments.
Among his favorite creative expressions of art were the book series The Alexandria Quartet by Lawrence Durrell and Citizen Kane, by Orson Welles. His favorite music included classical to showtunes and jazz, and Chet Baker's "You Don't Know What Love is" was a favorite till the end.
Please also read Eileen Quinn Knight, Ph.D. 2024 interview with Gordon at https://www.catholicprofiles.org/post/an-interview-with-gordon-nary
Mass Intentions will be Sunday December 21st 2025 at 9am at Assumption Church, 323 W Illinois Street, Chicago IL, 60654.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Catholic Charities of Chicago at catholiccharities.net. Inquiries may be directed to admin@catholicprofiles.org
Photographs and Artwork
 |  |
I worked with Gordon on Interviews and book reviews in fact, I interviewed Gordon. He was a man that perservered in his work for Profiles in Catholicism. He was devoted to the Catholic Church and what it stood for. He touched the heart of many people he interviewed. He was creative and interesting in every thing he undertook. We called each other at least 10 times every two weeks. He always asked people to send their book for review so I wouldn't have to buy it. Thanks for all you did for the Church and her people.
Gordon was passionate in all of his undertakings. He was a man of deep faith and also had a wonderful sense of humor. He saw life from a unique perspective and wanted to share this with the world. I spoke with Gordon often and came to realize he was a fierce competitor and had "no quit" in him. Gordon was very articulate and wrote well. He created Profiles in Catholicism and spent money out of his own pocket to make sure it would continue. He really enjoyed a great discussion, and he will be deeply missed. May Gordon rest eternally in the arms of God.
I cannot remember how I came across Gordon's e-journal, "Profiles in Catholicism"; but, when I did, there began a lasting dialogue between him and me: between the editor and writer. In fact, maybe this began when he contacted me for a written interview and, hoping in the help of some publicity, I answered a variety of written questions. I do not know if there was any commercial benefit, really, to being interviewed but what was helpful was that, over the years, Gordon made regular requests for written prayers on a whole variety of subjects, many of which I probably would not have considered had he not asked me to write about them. What is more Gordon was always very encouraging…
I appreciate that Gordan was a generous person. He provided the funds needed for me to return home from Ecuador as a young man. Gordan allowed me and my sisters to live with him when we were young children during a difficult time in our family. Gordan was always ready with his quick wit at family gatherings. I admired his sense of calmness and no need for constant attention. His unique T-shirts and unusual gifts at Christmas were his trademark. Lastly, from my private conversations with Gordan, spiritually speaking, I know he had a desire for all who he came in contact with to know God and to place their faith alone in the death, burial and resurrection…