Happy Birthday Gordon
/March 3, 1988.
It is impossible for your mother and me to say that date without smiling.
The room was filled with anticipation, nerves, prayer, and then, joy. When you were placed in our arms for the first time, Gordon James Corsetti, everything changed. The world felt bigger and brighter. Your tiny fingers wrapped around ours as if to say, “I’m here.” And from that moment on, our lives would never be the same.
Your mom, Mary Jo, looked at you with that quiet strength and overwhelming love that only a mother can know. I stood there in awe, grateful, humbled, and already proud. We didn’t know exactly who you would become, but we knew you were special. We felt it.
And over the years, you proved it.
You grew into a son who made us laugh, who challenged us, who inspired us. A brother who meant the world to Caitlin. A friend people trusted. A mentor who lifted others. A leader who stood tall. An educator who shaped young lives. A lacrosse official who brought integrity and passion to the game. A true Renaissance man, curious, capable, and caring.
You impacted more people than you ever realized.
And then December 2, 2022 came.
There are no words strong enough to describe the pain that Mary Jo, Caitlin, and I have carried since losing you. Grief changes a home. It changes conversations. It changes holidays and birthdays. It changes everything. There is an ache that never quite leaves, a silence that is always present.
But even in that sorrow, your life continues to speak.
Since your passing, I have stood before many groups, sharing your story and speaking about suicide prevention and mental health. Each time, I carry you with me. And I tell them:
“My son Gordon gave me a present to share with you all today. We can’t do anything about yesterday, and we don’t know what tomorrow will bring. But today is the present that God gave us, and we should take advantage of the present that was given to us today.”
That message is yours. It was shaped by your life. It was born from your story. And it is changing hearts.
Gordon, thank you for the gift you continue to give us, the courage to speak, the strength to keep going, and the purpose to carry on your important work in suicide prevention and mental health awareness. Through you, conversations are happening. Lives are being touched. Hope is being offered.
On your birthday, we celebrate the joy of March 3, 1988.
We acknowledge the heartbreak of December 2, 2022.
And we honor the legacy that lives on every single day.
We love you beyond words.
We miss you beyond measure.
Happy Birthday, son.
Love - Mommy, Caitlin, and Dad
XOXO
Please consider donating to the Gordon J. Corsetti Mental Agility Foundation to help us keep Gordon’s legacy alive.
Call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for help. In an emergency, please call 911.
If you or someone you know is seeking help for mental health concerns, visit the National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI) website, or call 1-800-950-NAMI(6264).
For confidential treatment referrals, visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) website, or call the National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP(4357).

