Gordon Wilkins Credit: Courtesy Gordon R. “Gordie” Wilkins, 84, of Burlington, Vt., passed away peacefully on February 21, 2026. We imagine he navigated the back roads home in his old Volvo station wagon with a gas-station coffee in the cupholder and a University of Vermont hockey game on th e radio. Gordie was born on October 5, 1941, in Manchester, Vt. He was the only child of Isabel (Holt) and Charles Wilkins. Gordie attended Burr Burton Academy, Middlebury College, and UVM. After graduating from UVM, he worked briefly for General Electric before taking a position in the Dean’s Office at the UVM Medical School, where he spent the remainder of his career. In 1964, Gordie married Dottie Needham, and together they raised two children, Jennifer and Christopher, in Essex Junction, Vt. Over the years, Gordie became a fixture in hockey rinks throughout New England as both a proud hockey parent and a dedicated UVM hockey and basketball fan. He could be found sipping bad coffee and cheering from the bleachers in all seasons of the year. If a Catamount team was in the playoffs, you could be sure that he and Dottie would be planning their weekend around a road trip to cheer on the Cats. “Laid-back” and “easygoing” were the definition of Gordie. He whistled and hummed his way through life. A Vermonter to the core, he knew every back road of the state. Gordie’s favorite day would include a long drive with no clear destination, with Dottie in the passenger seat. He will be remembered for the quiet way that he engaged everyone around him with kindness, patience and care. Those who knew and loved him are encouraged to remember him in their own way — preferably while driving in the sunshine with one arm out the window, whistling a happy tune. Gordie is survived by his wife of 61 years, Dorothy (Needham) Wilkins; children, Jennifer Wilkins Borch and Chris (Kelly) Wilkins; and grandchildren Foster and Brianna Borch and Atilia Wilkins. He was predeceased by his grandson Nolan Borch. The family would like to thank the teams at the Residence at Quarry Hill and UVM Home Health Hospice for their attentive care and support in Gordie’s final days. The family will plan a private gathering in the spring to celebrate his life. For Gordie’s full obituary, please visit cremationsocietycc.com. The post Obituary: Gordon R. Wilkins, 1941-2026 appeared first on Seven Days. ...read more read less