Though serving Rochester’s health needs for some 39 years, Dr. Anthony L. Jordan’s home was quite far away. Born in Georgetown, British Guyana, he went to the local elementary and secondary schools there, with what one would imagine to be great success.

Committed to educational achievement, he pursued advanced studies at Queens College in Guyana and taught there for a short time. With the goal in mind to pursue a career in law, he came to the States to study at Howard University in Washington, D.C. After being told that law was not a “black man’s career,” he set his sights on a career in medicine.

His medical school term was happily interrupted by his marriage to Ruth Green during his junior year. Medical internship spent at Richardson Memorial Hospital in Greensboro, North Carolina, he assumed active practice not far for there in High Point, North Carolina in 1926. During their short stay in the Carolinas, Mrs. Jordan taught in the Carolina school system. However, the climate not being satisfactory, the Jordans moved to Rochester in 1932.

Coming during the depression was at first rather difficult. Although his practice was set up at 136 Adams Street, his patients were from all areas. As a matter of fact, for the first few years the predominance of his calls were from the seventh ward area and it was perhaps at that time that his deep affection for the seventh ward residents was founded. As Mrs. Jordan recalled, “He had a special place in his heart for the people there,” as they did for him. Area residents recollect Dr. Jordan with fondness for he was truly a rare individual with a service methodology all his own. The neighborhood termed him “a doctor who would come.” Mrs. Jordan pictured him as an “old style family doctor;” he would come where and when he was needed (in a time when concern was waning even for the sick. Although he was most sympathetic and had great understanding for the poor, he treated them with respect. “One thing about him, he gave everybody time. He didn’t chase people out of his office and no matter how crowded the waiting room was, he took time for each one. He always had time for people.”

Coupled with his love for people, he had a most winning personality. “He had scads of friends. Some people attract people and some don’t; he did.” Though, with the ready wit and down-to-earth, disarming manner, went compassion. Many times even before he was financially stable he would give free service to patients. He spent many Sunday afternoons giving benefit examinations to college students and to the children going to summer camp, and others. Later in life he would not only render his service at no charge, but would often take money out of his pocket for those in need. A dedicated man, he gave his whole life to his profession.

“Towards the end when his health was worsening, he would not neglect his practice. He liked being with people and would remain in his office until he had to leave. He was there at work during October and he died in December, 1971.” Mrs. Jordan added, “Even the week before his death, he was anxious to return to work. We were going to strip the office and rent out the building, but he said, ‘No, wait until I get back to Rochester,’ but he never came back.”

Medicine enabled Dr. Jordan to do more for people than law would ever have permitted him, and it was his nature to be benevolent. Along with his obvious dedication to medicine, Dr. Jordan was as adamantly committed to education and what it could do. He particularly stressed education for the black man. He tried to interest his children in education; it was his whole aim in life. He believed in college education and insisted on high grades. He talked to them about books – the whole house was crammed with books. Perhaps it was his backing of education that led to his very active support of the Negro College Fund – one of his pet charities. He likewise, heavily supported several colleges which his children attended.

Along with the respect for education, he gave time, effort, and money for advancement of black people in the community. During the 50’s, he and others spent much time working for the hiring of minority peoples by the city. He was particularly disturbed by the fact that at the time there were no black policemen on the city’s force. Staunchly supporting the NAACP, he became a lifelong member of that organization. Throughout his own career, he tried to help young black professionals get started. For years there were only a few in Rochester. Later, as more came, he tried to encourage them and get them on their feet.

For some eighteen years he worked as a welfare doctor for the county. He was also a church member affiliated with the Baptist Church. His service to humanity was widely recognized. In January, 1965, he received a presidential citation for his “meaningful community service” by recommendation of the Monroe County Medical Society. He received two citations from the Elks Club – one in 1967, another in 1971 and an award from the Baptist Minister’s Alliance of Rochester in 1971.

No doubt Dr. Jordan’s life was an inspiration to his family and children, four of whom – grandchildren and younger relatives – became physicians. One relative in particular, expressed his aim in life as pursuing a medical profession to give service to his race. This particularly reflects Dr. Jordan’s motivation in service. As Mrs. Jordan put it, “They admired him and wanted to do what he did.”

Dr. Jordan had certainly made a lasting impression on the Community Board, the health center's governing body during its inception in the early 70's. Perhaps it was the fondness which enveloped memories of Dr. Jordan that led the Board to unanimously choose his name for the center.

Perhaps most importantly, they wished the center, in its humanitarian service, to so identify with and to understand the community as Dr. Jordan seemed to have done. He was always close enough to the community so that they trusted him with his “down-home” disarming charm. He was a man of personality and concern.

One could well speculate that the service the community wished from the health center was the service that Dr. Jordan had given.