Lankton leaves behind a storied legacy as an investor in his community, innovative leader and storied collector.
“Gordon was a natural-born leader,” said the Museum of Russian Icons executive director, Kent dur Russell, in a statement. “He was infectiously enthusiastic, a pragmatic visionary, and an inspiration to his community and to the over 20,000 employees of his plastics company Nypro, Inc.”
Born in Illinois in 1931, Lankton graduated from Cornell University with a degree in mechanical engineering in 1954. President of the school’s student government, Lankton traveled as a delegate to an international student council conference in Japan, a trip believed to have sparked his love for adventures abroad, according to the museum.