Gordon Faber (1931–2014) — Mayor and Community Leader of Hillsboro, Oregon

Gordon C. Faber was an American businessman and longtime public servant who served two terms as mayor of Hillsboro, Oregon (1993–2001). He was a veteran, small-business owner, and local civic leader.

Gordon C. Faber (April 2, 1931 – August 18, 2014) was an American businessman and elected official best known for serving two terms as mayor of Hillsboro, Oregon, from 1993 to 2001. Born in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, he moved with his family to Hillsboro as a child and became deeply connected to the community he later led. Faber combined military service, private enterprise, and municipal government during a life spent largely in public-minded work.

Early life, military service, and business career

Faber grew up in Hillsboro and joined the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War era, a common path for young Americans of his generation. After completing his service he returned to Oregon, where he ran small businesses and later worked in real estate. These experiences gave him practical knowledge of local economies, housing markets, and the concerns of small-business owners—background that informed his later work on municipal budgets and planning.

Entry into local government and mayoralty

Faber’s public career began with volunteer and appointed roles on local boards and eventually elected office. He served on Hillsboro’s budget committee and city council before being elected mayor. As mayor from 1993 to 2001 he presided over a period in which Hillsboro was experiencing significant growth, linked to the expansion of high-technology manufacturing and the broader Silicon Forest economy. His administration focused on managing that growth through attention to infrastructure, public services, and land-use planning to accommodate new jobs and residents.

Roles and responsibilities

Budget oversight: participation in and stewardship of municipal budgeting processes.
City planning: working with council and staff on zoning, transportation, and utilities to support growth.
Community engagement: representing Hillsboro in regional discussions and responding to resident concerns about development and services.

Legacy and later life

Faber is remembered locally as a pragmatic civic leader who brought business experience to city government and helped guide Hillsboro through a transformative decade. After leaving office in 2001, he remained a recognizable figure in the community. He died at his home in Hillsboro on August 18, 2014, at age 83 from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.