Landscape Architect
Community Leader
Environmental Advocate
Mother
Grandmother
Friend
One of the first licensed landscape architects in California, Mary Gordon designed over a thousand gardens in the Bay Area over a 70 year career. Graduating from UC Berkeley in 1947, Mary completed her training in the San Francisco office of Eckbo, Royston and Williams, pioneers of modern landscape architecture.
In 1951 Mary established her own design firm in Palo Alto specializing in residential garden design. She chaired the Palo Alto Planning commission 1965-1980 and worked tirelessly for public open space and environmental protection in the Baylands and foothills. Mary devoted her landscape architecture career to the fascinating quest of perfecting the art of garden design.
Working tirelessly over 7 decades (1947-2018) Mary established her reputation early as a premier Bay Area garden designer and planner.
Graduating from UC Berkeley at 17 she was one of the first female licensed Landscape Architects in California. Mary was a natural leader and feminist with a strong work ethic and deep passion for her work that never left her.
Tough, confident, talented, belief in her ability never wavered and she could always back it up.
Early Life
Mary was born Mary Louise Danielson on March 13, 1926 in Fort Collins Colorado, the fourth child and only daughter of Ruth E Greenwood and Oscar E Danielson. She and her three older brothers, Milton, Warren and Gordon were all born within 5 years of each other. They were close knit siblings all throughout their lives and really loved their baby sister! Growing up on a sugar beet farm with no running water, electricity or heat, but plenty of outdoor adventure, Mary always felt connected to the land and its ecosystems. She wanted to do whatever her brothers were doing and often got away with it unless her mother intervened with safety concerns.
Mary and her brothers in Santa Ana
Mary and her family on the farm in Colorado
Mary at age 2
Education
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Mary and her sorority sisters at UC Berkeley
Mary’s yearbook photo
Early Career
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Career and Life in Palo Alto
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Late Career
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Family
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Mary and her oldest son, Steve Gordon
Mary and her husband John, son-in-law Frank and grandchildren Elisa and Nicolas - 2000