Pamela Gores, widow of architect Landis Gores of the New Canaan Harvard Five, died on Friday at her home in New Canaan, Connecticut. She was 102 years old.
Pamela Gores
Pam is survived by four daughters, Catherine Lynch of Albuquerque, New Mexico; Ainslie Gilligan of Scarborough, Maine; Valerie Gores of East Rutherford, New Jersey, and Elizabeth Donovan of Hollywood, Florida; and one son, Karl Whitmarsh, of Oughterard, County Galway, Ireland; ten grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren.
Pamela Gores was born in Cincinnati to Karl Russel Whitmarsh and Catherine Fowler Clarke on November 13, 1923 and spent her early years in New York City where she attended Miss Hewitt’s classes. She studied at the Low-Heywood school in Stamford and at Miss Porter’s School in Farmington, Connecticut. For several years she lived with her aunt in Weston and rode at Mrs. Self’s which later became New Canaan Mounted Troop. She also rode with the Wilton Riding Club where she competed against Bill Steinkraus, who won the first US Olympic gold medal in show jumping. Pam graduated from Pine Manor College in 1942 and married architect Landis Gores that same year.
After the war, Pam assisted Landis in countless ways as he was developing his architectural practice. When he was stricken with polio in 1954, Pam took on the additional full-time role of nurse. In spite of her many obligations, Pam was active at St. Mark’s church in New Canaan and hosted prayer groups at her home regularly so that Landis, who was wheelchair-bound, could attend. As Landis began to return to his design work, Pam drove their Land Rover so he could meet clients and make site visits. She served as general contractor on his 1977 House for All Seasons, an experiment in sustainable living, which was designed to minimize the use of fossil fuel. In recent years, she played a key role in the restoration of the Gores Pavilion at Irwin Park and participated in interviews for books and films documenting New Canaan’s modern architecture and the community of architects and designers who settled in the town at midcentury.
Though she outlived all her friends of her own generation, Pam continued to the end to be visited by many of their children, who treasured her friendship with their mothers.
In accordance with Pam’s wishes, there will be no funeral service. Her children will lay her cremated remains to rest in Cincinnati beside her husband this coming spring.
Pam was a lifelong dog lover and took in many rescues over the years. A Memorial donation made to the ASPCA or other worthy animal welfare organizations would be a fitting tribute.
Pamela is being compassionately cared for by the Staff at Hoyt Funeral Home, 199 Main Street, New Canaan CT 06840.
For online condolences please visit www.hoytfuneralhome.com.