Gordon H Spencer was born in Orlando, Florida, in 1935 and received his BS in optics from the University of Rochester in 1957. After working for a year, he returned to the University to undertake graduate training, and was awarded his Ph.D. in 1963. Dr. Spencer was vice president of Scientific Calculations, Inc. of Rochester. Spencer received the 1964 Adolph Lomb Medal, and was elected a Fellow of OSA.