About Gordon H. Kusayanagi

Gordon was born August 1, 1953 in Gilroy, CA. His parents, Tom and Sumi, were strawberry farmers in Morgan Hill, CA-where they still reside.

Gordon attended Morgan Hill schools through Live Oak High School. While attending elementary school he met his life long friends, Lee Perez and Cindy Morioka (whom later married). While in high school Gordon participated in sports, student government, yearbook activities and playing guitar. He formed a garage band with his friends.

After graduating from Live Oak High School in 1971, Gordon attended Gavilan College in Gilroy. At Gavilan he met Rob Fowler, who was forming his own band named Savannah and looking for musicians. At about the same time as meeting Rob, he met Stephanie Groux when he played backup for her group of five female singers. Stephanie and Gordon were soon dating. Gordon joined Savannah and they were playing all over California. Savannah was courted by Capital and A & M Records and were creating a stir. They shared the stage with such artists as Elvin Bishop, Malo, and Huey Lewis and the News.

Gordon and Stephanie married on July 20, 1974 and took up residence in Gilroy. He attended Foothill College in Los Altos and received an A.S. Degree in the Radiology Technician Program and worked at Good Samaritan Hospital in San Jose.

Their first born, Scott was born on Feb. 5, 1976. Scott took an immediate liking to music and received his first drum set from his parents on his third birthday. Their daughter Sarah was born on Dec. 29, 1980. Now their family was complete.

Soon after Sarah arrived Gordon realized that he needed more family time and gave up the “Rock Star” lifestyle. Gordon went to work at IBM in San Jose, CA in March 1982.
He began with the graveyard shift in manufacturing and moved on to teaching Quality Circles. He then attended St. Mary’s College and graduated with a B.S. degree in Business Management. He moved to the Finance Department at IBM.

During Scott and Sarah’s young years, Gordon started a career of Little League coaching, both Boy’s Little League and Girl’s Little League Softball. He also served Gilroy Little League as a board member, Vice President, and served on the “Classic Summer Memories” Car Show Committee, raising funds for building Little League Fields in Gilroy. Through his association with Little League, Gordon started working with The Gilroy Garlic Festival Committee. He served as Chairman of The Barn Dance and eventually ended up on the Garlic Festival Board of Directors.

In 1992 Gordon and Stephanie bought their first franchise of The Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory. They opened their doors in the Gilroy Outlets on August 13th, 1994. Stephanie ran the daily operations while Gordon cooked fudge and apples on weekends, Scott and Sarah were behind the counter. Many of Scott’s and Sarah’s friends were the first employees. In Aug., 1995 they opened their second store, also in the Gilroy Outlets and in Dec. 1996 their purchased their third store on Cannery Row, Monterey. The Cannery Row store is still owned by The Kusayanagi Family.

In 1998, his first grandson, Cameron was born. His second grandson Brady, followed just 9 months later in 1999. Gordon’s life revolved around his grandson’s again teaching baseball, music and his love of all things “Disney” to both boys.

In 1999, Gordon joined Scott in a new “cover” band that was eventually named “10 til 2”. Over the first 5 years the band went through a few personnel changes, but Gordon and Scott always remained constant.

In the last years of his life Gordon was busy enjoying life. He was devoted to his family and friends, savoring every moment with his grandsons, becoming a budding wine enthusiast, enjoying travel, especially to Disney Parks, and being a season ticket holder at SBC Park, where he could watch his beloved San Francisco Giants.

On September 21, 2005, Gordon lost his life while on vacation with his wife, Stephanie, and lifelong friends, Lee & Cindy Perez.

Gordon Rocks Foundation

To Donate Now:

To Mail Your Donations Please Send To:
Gordon Rocks Foundation
South Valley National Bank
8000 Santa Teresa Blvd
Gilroy, CA 95020
800-495-7100

General Information email: scott@gordonrocks.org

All public relations please email stephanie@gordonrocks.org