Michael Gordy

Profile Updated: July 10, 2023
Residing In: CHAMPAGNAC-DE-BELAIR France
Spouse/Partner? Tell us how long: Married to Vickie Lee Newman on 5 November 2011. Not long enough
Occupation: organizational strategy consultant, global health project broker
Children/Grandchildren? If so, birth year and location: Rachel Gordy, born 1979, Boston, MA, USA
Alexander Gordy, 1983, Perigueux, Dordogne, France
Sven More…Dévanthéry, grandson, born to Rachel and her husband Eric on October 17, 2011 in Geneva, Switzerland.
Leila Gordy, born to Alexander on 1 April 2020 in Bangkok, Thailand.
Léon Gordy, born to Alexander in Bangkok in December 2022
Personal Website / Homepage: m.gordy@orange.fr
Retired?

No

What did you do right after high school?

College and graduate school. AB, Carleton College 1966; PhD, The University of Texas at Austin 1970. Taught political philosophy at various universities for ten years, ending up directing a program in the Ethics of the Professions in the University Professors Program at Boston University. Received a grant to write a book on a French political philosopher in 1981, moved to France and never moved back.

Voluntary Activities including Peace Corps.

Board member of the association "Science and Conscience", Geneva, Switzerland. Board member of the association "Vie et Savoir", Geneva, working on a project in Benin, Africa.

Have you had different careers?

University professor in political philosophy; wine merchant; Organizational strategy consultant; fundraiser and consultant in public health and development.Now doing strategy work for international organizations (WMO, UNISDR and WHO especially) and working on global health issues with foundations, helping them choose projects and raise funds. Involved in the planning stages of creating a theoretical-practical synthesis to be called (tentatively) The Institute for Socio-Economic Transformation. I am currently the personal strategy adviser to the Deputy Secretary General of the World Meteorological Organization and strategy consultant to the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for the International Strategy on Disaster Risk Reduction. I was hired to help each organization revise its post-2015 strategy to include practical ways for them to cooperate with each other on projects dealing with the overlaps of climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction. The intent is to move beyond meetings and blah-blah into practical action. I hope it is not just an exercise in self-deception...but my colleagues are quite serious and knowledgeable, so who can tell at this point? We'll find out.

Fun or interesting "adventures" or one of the high points of your life.

Spent a year travelling in Asia and Australia, funded by AT&T, giving speeches about the so-called 'knowledge economy' and other political-economic fantasies.

Professional watchword: Don't believe everything you think.

Caveat: Don't blame me, God made me this way...

What do you do with your spare time? What are you passionate about?

Play trumpet, walk in the mountains, read, cook, travel, participate in political, economic and social discussions, write. And talk (probably--surely--too much).

Have you lived one of your dreams?

Taught ethics in a maximum security prison in Texas one summer. Moved out of the US. Helped bring two wonderful human beings into the world and shared fully in raising them.

Now I live in the Dordogne, in SW France, with the love of my life.

Publications or recordings? Ex: books, articles, films, music.

Small book on disaster risk reduction and the global socio-economic system published in July, 2016, by Springer Verlag, a global publishing house based in Germany. The title is: "Disaster Risk and the Global System: Ruminations on a Way Forward"

Series Title : SpringerBriefs Climate Studies
ISBN : 978-3-319-41666-3
Edition Number : 1

What would most surprise us to know about you now and what you have done?

After partially recovering from all attempts by the primary and secondary school systems to socialize me, I willingly allowed 'higher' education to take another shot at it. I had to scrabble to where I could view (and smell) the top of the academic heap before having the confidence to escape, moving to France in 1981 on a research grant and never returning except to visit.

Comments:

We are here to learn something. If we knew what it was, we wouldn't have to stick around any longer. Time to 'twist the kaleidoscope' and take a look at things anew.

Michael's Latest Interactions

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Jul
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Jul 10, 2023 at 11:00 AM
Michael Gordy has a birthday today.
Jun
22
Jun 22, 2023 at 4:33 AM
Michael Gordy posted a message.
Mar 01, 2023 at 7:34 AM

Happy Birthday, Jim. We'd still love to have you visit us here in the Dordogne. In the meantime, Keep On Truckin'
-----Mister Natural

Michael Gordy added a comment on his Profile.
Aug 08, 2022 at 7:39 AM
Michael Gordy has a birthday today.
Jun 22, 2022 at 4:33 AM
Michael Gordy added a comment on his Profile.
Jun 26, 2021 at 11:10 AM
Michael Gordy has a birthday today.
Jun 22, 2021 at 4:33 AM
Michael Gordy posted a message.
Nov 22, 2020 at 6:40 AM

Many happy, healthy returns of the day, Ron. I hope you and your loved ones are keeping safe in these perilous, rudderless times. All the best, Mike

Aug 30, 2020 at 8:32 AM

Happy Birthday, Ken. And many happy, healthy returns of the day. I hope you are well and that you are keeping safe in the midst of the chaos. Not an easy thing to do.....

Michael Gordy posted a message. New comment added.
Jul 15, 2020 at 2:25 PM

Posted on: Jul 15, 2020 at 6:57 AM

Many happy, healthy returns of the day, Bruce. When the US gets its act together and its citizens are no longer personae non grata in the EU, why not come over here for a visit?

Michael Gordy posted a message.
Jul 10, 2020 at 3:52 PM

Happy Birthday, Rob. I wish you many happy, healthy returns of the day.

Michael Gordy has a birthday today.
Jun 22, 2020 at 4:33 AM
Michael Gordy posted a message.
May 17, 2020 at 2:26 PM

Happy Birthday, Jim, and many more healthy and happy ones as we 'slide down the razor blade of life'.

Michael Gordy has a birthday today.
Jun 22, 2019 at 4:33 AM
Jun 15, 2019 at 4:15 PM

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MIKE May your life be full of happiness and good things to come Enjoy your day and may the rest of your years to come be filled with peace and prosperity Good health and good wealth to you and yours now and in the future Ken Rotter

Mar 18, 2019 at 12:48 PM

hI mIKE HOW ARE YOU HAVENT HEARD FROM YU IN AWHILE LIVING THE GOOD LIFE I HOPE VISITED HOME AND SCHOOL LAST SUMMER HOPE TO DO IT AGAIN THIS SUMMER 2019 ALL THE BEST TO YOU AND YOURS 7018339943 KEN ROTTER

Michael Gordy posted a message.
Jul 17, 2018 at 8:07 AM

Happy Birthday, Rob, with many happy, healthy returns of the day. All the best, Mike

Michael Gordy has a birthday today.
Jun 22, 2018 at 4:33 AM
Michael Gordy posted a message.
Feb 08, 2018 at 10:36 AM

Happy Birthday, Altus Fartus! Do you still play the trombone? I play a bit every day and fantasize about what I sounded like 20 years ago, making sure the windows are shut so the property values in our neighborhood don't sink any further or faster. I have fond memories of the noise we made together in high school, particularly in the brass ensemble we played in. I hope you are well and that you have a nice celebration 'as we slide down the razor blade of life' (Tom Lehrer, the comic, circa 1958)

Michael Gordy posted a message.
Nov 16, 2017 at 7:06 AM

Happy Birthday, Ron, and many happy, healthy returns. And welcome to your Second Childhood! I'm on my third, and I have fond memories of my second.

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Posted: Dec 17, 2013 at 1:08 AM
Mike and Vickie at their wedding reception, 5 November 2011
Posted: Dec 17, 2013 at 1:08 AM
Together through life: Santa Fe, NM, July 2011
Posted: Dec 17, 2013 at 1:08 AM
Engagement picture
Posted: Dec 17, 2013 at 1:08 AM
Sven
Posted: Dec 17, 2013 at 1:08 AM
Sven and his mother, 'La prunelle de mes yeux'
Posted: Dec 17, 2013 at 1:08 AM
Hanging out with Mom in Berlin
Posted: Dec 17, 2013 at 1:08 AM
Alexander with friend in West Papua (Irian Jaya)