Gordon, LaToya’s ex-husband, Bobbitt’s manager, dies at 66

Wednesday, April 20, 2005 | 8:53 a.m.

Entrepreneur Jack Gordon, John Wayne Bobbitt's former manager and LaToya Jackson's ex-husband, died Tuesday in an Arizona hospital.

The 66-year-old Gordon, who was married to Jackson for six years, lived in Las Vegas for more than 36 years.

Gordon and Jackson were married in Reno in 1991 and divorced in Las Vegas in 1997.

Jackson, older sister of pop singer Michael Jackson, came to Las Vegas with Gordon in 1992 to appear in the "Bare Essence" show at the Sands hotel.

The couple made headlines when Jackson accused Gordon of abuse in the marriage and of violating her civil rights under the 1994 Violence Against Women Act. Gordon denied the allegations.

Gordon later went to court to defend himself against John Wayne Bobbitt's ex-girlfriend, Kristina Elliott, a Playboy model and a Las Vegas topless dancer who accused Gordon of failing to pay her sufficiently.

"He enjoyed his celebrity -- he was a colorful and creative person," said David Chesnoff, who with his law partner, Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, were longtime attorneys for Gordon.

Gordon's death at Mayo Hospital in Scottsdale, Ariz., was announced in a notice from King David Memorial Chapel. Chesnoff said Gordon had cancer.

Gordon's two children from a previous marriage, daughter Francesca Malkin, and son, Aaron Gordon, both live in Las Vegas as well as his brother, Terry Gordon. He has four grandchildren.

Gordon, a U.S. Navy veteran, was a member of the Friars Club of Los Angeles.

Funeral services are scheduled at 11:30 a.m. Friday at the King David Memorial Chapel, 2697 Eldorado Lane.

Burial will follow at the Palm Valley View Cemetery.

Sun reporter Ed Koch contributed to this report.