Obituary - Warren E. Gordon

Warren E. Gordon, the head of municipal bond trading at Charles Schwab & Co., died Wednesday morning of complications from cancer. He was 58.

Mr. Gordon, of Danville, Calif., was a 34-year veteran of the municipal bond market, launching his career with PaineWebber in 1977.

He was widely known, liked and respected in the muni bond community, according to Charles Schwab trader Tony Shields.

“When I first moved to Los Angeles in 1981 he had a little reception at a local watering hole to welcome me to L.A.,” Shields said in an email Wednesday.

“He didn’t know me from Adam but he introduced me to the bond community and we quickly became friends,” Shields said. “I’m proud to say I knew him for 30 years and he mentored many, many young traders, myself included.”

Hawley Vander Poel also first met Mr. Gordon at PaineWebber early in his career.

“Honest, always helpful, sincere, very friendly and most of all a person of high integrity,” is how Vander Poel describes his friend.

“He had a great memory for municipal credits and had an extensive knowledge of California credits and was always willing to share his knowledge,” said Vander Poel, who is retired.

Mr. Gordon spent a decade at PaineWebber, and before joining Charles Schwab in 2000, also worked at First Interstate Capital Markets, Sutro & Co., and Rauscher Pierce Refnes Inc.

He also served for many years on the professional qualifications advisory committee of the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board.

“Warren worked with the MSRB for many years on various professional qualifications projects,” said Loretta Jones, the board’s director of professional qualifications. “We greatly appreciated his vast knowledge of the industry, professionalism, humor and unfailing kindness. He will be missed.”

Mr. Gordon grew up in Hazlet, N.J.,and graduated from Manhattan College.

Survivors include his wife, Agnes, and three children.

Plans for a memorial service are pending.

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