Farewell Tributes
to Gordon Gitlen
Detection
of Fraud
through Tenant Screening
By
Harvey Saltz
I will miss Gordon Gitlen more than most of you who have taken the time to write about him because I worked at his office from the time he opened it in April 1999, to the present date. I saw him every weekday until he became too ill to come to work, and sometimes on the weekend too, because he sometimes went sailing with me. The only other person present at the building during the entire time that Gordon ran his law office is Gordon’s father, Howard. Gordon and I had a special relationship. I first met Gordon in 1983, but did not begin working with him until 1998 when he asked me to review a rent increase case that a had been abandoned by a former rent control board attorney who filed many rent increase cases on behalf of landlords, but did not finish them. That case ended up as the favorable published decision of Seacall Development v. Santa Monica Rent Control Board, (1999) 73 Cal.App.4th 201. I was impressed by the speed that he brought the case to trial and because he did not tolerate Rent Board delays by giving them continuances every time they asked for one (they asked for at least one continuance in every case). When Gordon opened his office building in the spring of 1999, he let me choose one of the offices to be my workplace, so I choose one at the rear of the building, next to his fine law library. He then presented me with a little potted tree, he never charged me any rent and he permitted me to come and go as I pleased. Gordon not only encouraged me to work on cases for other attorneys, he also proofread many of those documents I wrote for them in addition to those I wrote for him. He valued my opinion, work and judgment, and he gave me his undivided attention so that I did not waste time sitting in front his desk trying to get in a few words between phone calls and other interruptions. He had enough confidence in himself that he was not threatened by my participation in the cases as many attorneys are. He would file the cases as fast as I could write them and we had many successes. Gordon was good to his office staff and there was always some type of party going on because all birthdays were celebrated and he also took us out to lunch on a regular basis as well. Whenever he went on vacation, (which was quite often), he brought back small gifts for everyone. He was always the optimist, and very brave about the cancer that slowly wore him down. I only got the bad news through the good news. For example, he would announce that it appeared to be limited to areas of his body where I did not know it was present before he announced the “good news.” The last time we went to downtown to the Central Courthouse was last October. I had to drive, and Gordon could only walk while was using a cane. Although that Courthouse is a big place and although he was walking with great difficulty, he stopped by the Sheriff’s Office to visit a clerk named Evette Johnson. She came to his service at Hillside Memorial Park which was held on Sunday, May 15th and gave one of the speeches in his memory. She then attended the memorial celebration at his office as well. She gave up her Sunday in Memory of Gordon. As I write this story in the fine office that he gave me, I can’t quite accept that he won’t be coming in the back door any moment and greeting me by saying, “Hey Double J.” Then I would reply, “Hey Double G.” Gordon opened his office building about the same time as I got my first digital camera, so I became the unofficial photographer and took many photos of him and people who worked this office, but there was only one of “Double G” and me without anyone else included. That was taken at the November ACTION meeting the night before the 2004 Presidential election, and I was disguised as the guest speaker, John FrankenKerry. The camera was only supposed to be a prop, but it captured the last photo of me and “Double G.” And if you don’t believe it, come to the next ACTION meeting!
To know Gordon Gitlen was to know a man with passion and determination. Gordon had a single-minded determination whatever legal case or ideal that he had before him. As with other ACTION presidents before him, he had a determination to right the injustices and tyranny of rent control. Gordon brought to bear all of his skills, both legal and business. Above all else, Gordon had determination. When Gordon was first diagnosed with cancer about 4 years ago, he fought with single-minded determination in order to beat it. Gordon attacked the disease from all angles both with conventional medicines of chemo, radiation and surgery. Additionally, he fought it with diet, physical training, mental training and other holistic methods. When it came back a second time, Gordon again met the challenge head on, and this time with even more dogged determination. All throughout this time Gordon always maintained his commitment to ACTION and the landlord’s plight in Santa Monica. He attended meetings when he was in great pain and discomfort. Even if he was completely fatigued, he would save up several days’ worth of energy in order to attend a meeting and then go home and sleep for a day. That is what I call determination and commitment. When Gordon was diagnosed with the third re-occurrence he again started with dogged determination and will power, convinced he was going to prevail. However, this time the ruling from the bench was less favorable. All appeals had been exhausted and Gordon met his final challenge with determination to find meaning with a lot of quiet introspection. Gordon never complained, he never said “why me.” Gordon accepted the doctors’ finding like he would accept a bad final order from a judge. Not happy about it, but resigned to follow the ruling in spite of the injustice of it all. When Francyne and I saw Gordon several weeks ago he was resigned to the inevitable. However, true to his dogged determination he had a 6 inch pile of paperwork in front of him which he was bound and determined to go through and resolve each one before the deadline. He was taking care of mundane client issues, making sure that appropriate council was involved for continuing cases and setting his affairs in order. All of this of course could have been delegated to staff. However, Gordon saw to it that he had a personal hand in resolving each and every issue before leaving. We had the opportunity to spend an hour together. We talked about ACTION and his commitment to the organization and to landlords in general. He hoped that it would continue on and he appreciated all the support that he had received from individuals during his fight against cancer. We then turned our subject of conversation to the more spiritual side of life. We talked about God, the meaning of life and the meaning of death. One of the most amazing things was the fact that Gordon never complained, he never lashed out at God or anybody else. It was with quiet dignified acceptance that Gordon calmly discussed his life and the journey before him. When it was time for goodbyes Gordon and I gave each other a long hug. Not just the kind of hug men will give each other as a friendly embrace. This was a long comforting hug. Then we kissed each other on the lips. After leaving and driving down the mountain from his house I reflected on our last visit and its meaning. I pondered the kiss and of course one thought was “I JUST KISSED GORDON ON THE LIPS” and while it sounds strange, again, because of the context it felt natural and sincere. I am sure that Gordon was met by John Rodriguez, Jim Baker, John Jurenka and others from ACTION. These past Presidents all had conviction and determination to fight against the tyranny of rent control for the freedom of all owners. God be with you Gordon.
The passing of Gordon Gitlen will no doubt greatly affect the
personal and private lives of many people. What a wonderful human
being and superb professional we have lost. Gordon was always there to answer my legal queries, provide sound professional advice and execute legal procedures on my behalf when required. His honesty, morality and sincere straightforward explanations and actions always made me feel comfortable and reassured about his legal guidance. I will miss having him to turn to, often on short notice. In the short time since he lost his battle with cancer, an issue came up about which I normally would have called him without hesitation. I felt a deep pang and deeper sense of loss with the reality that I could not phone him. I know absolutely that I am not alone in this experience. Gordon was a terrific role model as a private human being and legal professional. He fought passionately for what he believed in and in support of his clients. He also fought passionately with all of his being against the cancer that kept trying to destroy him, returning to live life to the fullest each time he won a bout. Unfortunately, even the best discipline in following to medical treatment, exercising to regain strength, eating right, maintaining a positive outlook against all obstacles, and adhering to whatever protocol there was to fight the cancer from within and without was not enough to ultimately win his battle with this disease. There are many lessons learned, however, from watching Gordon not let his spirit waiver when ‘the chips were down’ and the courageous battle he fought.
The old saying that “when life gives you lemons, make lemonade”
certainly applied to my friend Gordon. In Gordon’s situation,
he took the bitterness of his illness and created sweet and meaningful
friendships. We had known Gordon for many years through our business
and professional relationship, although we were friendly, our
friendship did not begin until Gordon’s illness. My partner
and husband, Carl was diagnosed with cancer shortly after Gordon’s
diagnosis. Gordon went out of his way to befriend both Carl and
me. He came to the hospital, to our home and simply extended himself
to us. Together we began to share good times, laughter, emotions,
our fears, our tears and the privilege of friendship. Gordon was
vulnerable and honest with me. He wanted to be a better person,
and he was evolving and willing to grow spiritually and humanly.
I was privileged to know a side of Gordon that I never knew; we
shared how silly the human condition can be about simple struggles
and the importance about living life with love. I will truly miss
Gordon and am deeply saddened by this loss, however, I truly believe
that he is in a good place and remain honored that I was blessed
to know the sweet side of him. I say good bye to my sweet friend
in the season of this lifetime and remember the end of a prayer
that we said together “it is by dying that one awakens to
eternal life.”
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