Nordby, Gordon 10/3/1929 - 7/25/2015 Ann Arbor Gordon Lee Nordby died July 25, 2015 at home in Ann Arbor surrounded by his loving wife and family, following a five month battle with cancer. He was born in Moscow, Idaho on October 3, 1929, the son of Julius E. Nordby, Professor of Animal Husbandry at the University of Idaho, and M. Josephine Barstad, an elementary school teacher. Both of his parents were direct descendants of Norwegian immigrants. He grew up in the small town of Dubois, Idaho, where his father had been appointed Director of the United States Sheep Experiment Station and Western Sheep Breeding Laboratory operated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He attended Stanford University in Stanford, California, and received the B.S., M.S. and PhD degrees in Chemistry, with a concentration in Biological Chemistry and Numerical Analysis. Since his earliest days at Stanford he was closely involved with the newly emerging field of Computer Science. After receiving the PhD, he went to the Harvard Medical School as a Post-Doctoral Fellow in the distinguished Laboratory of Physical Medicine, later assuming teaching positions in the field as well. In 1962 he moved to the University of Michigan to participate in the formation of the Biophysics Research Division and to serve as an Associate Professor of Biological Chemistry in the Medical School. His research area involved developing computer-based mathematical structures that were isomorphic to the biological system. In service to the University, he chaired the University Computer Policy Committee which developed major changes and a transition to a significant, new distributed hierarchical computing system. He retired in 1994. He enjoyed many hobbies, including woodworking, jewelry making and photography. In retirement he took up scuba diving and underwater photography, traveling around the world in pursuit of this sport. Always a classical music fan, he enjoyed productions of the UM Musical Society, the New York Metropolitan and San Francisco operas, and the NY and SF Philharmonics. Throughout his life he camped, hiked and back-packed around the West, particularly in the Grand Teton National Park and the Marshall Wilderness Area in Wyoming and Idaho. He was active in the Boy Scouts of America, achieving the Eagle Scout award and serving as summer camp counselor at the Camp of the Tetons, as well as an adult volunteer in Ann Arbor. He was President of the Ann Arbor North Rotary Club, and together with his wife, participated in many Rotary International activities and projects, again traveling around the world in this endeavor. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Virginia Blomer Nordby, and by four children: Margaret Nordby Hug (Reinhard), Laura Nordby Delgado (John), Martin E. Nordby (Gail), and Eric C. Nordby (Avian Townley). He also is survived by the following beloved grandchildren: Christiana Hug, Stefanie Hug, Michael Delgado, David Delgado (Claire), Joseph Delgado, Anne Lise Delgado, Brian Nordby, Kevin Nordby, Sara Nordby, Brianna Wallace (Shane), Keegan Nordby, and step-grandson, Fox Townley. He was preceded in death by his parents and younger brother, Edward. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, August 8, 2015 at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, 306 N. Division Street, Ann Arbor, MI. There will be a light reception to follow. In memory of Gordon, memorial contributions may be made to the University Musical Society c/o the Regents University of Michigan, the St. Andrew's Episcopal Church or to The Stanford Fund for Undergraduate Education.
Calling all Rotarians to meet at the Michigan Union steps at 1:30 pm Wednesday, August 5 for a rally and publicity walk to end Polio. The Rotary Club of Ann Arbor also invites you to attend their weekly meeting at noon. The motor coach will remain on site until 3:00 tomorrow. Wear your Rotary best!
Dear Fellow Rotary Club Presidents and other Rotary Dignitaries,
“Rolling with Rotary Adventure” is coming to District 6380 on Wednesday, August 5, 2015. The Motor Home with 4 Young Professionals, who are Rotarians, will only make one stop in our District in the campus of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. The Rotary Club of Ann Arbor (RCAA) is hosting the group for approximately 4 hours from 1130 AM to 3 PM. RCAA would like to invite other Clubs in District 6380 to join them in hosting this fun filled and showcasing event in Ann Arbor. Hope you will be able to join us.
Ann Arbor is one of the 10 stops the Motor Home is making during their 9 day trip that will start in State College, Pa and end in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
The plan for Ann Arbor stop will be highlighting the efforts of Rotary International to eradicate polio throughout the world. The Motor Home will be parked outside the Michigan Union on State Street from 1130 AM to 3 PM that day. A commemorative polio walk will take place starting at 130 PM, leaving the Union and ending at the Rackham Building, where 60 years ago, Dr Thomas Francis Jr and Dr. Jonas Salk announced to the world that the Salk polio vaccine was effective in preventing paralytic polio. Another historical announcement will be made about a recently achieved milestone at the conclusion of the walk. Rotarians and Public are welcome to attend. Along the March route, we plan to stop every so often as a group and share a milestone of polio eradication efforts throughout the years with final milestone announcement at the end of the march.
It will be a COOL thing for all to participate. You will get an opportunity to get a picture by the Commemorative Plaque located inside the Rackham building.
I sincerely hope you all can attend and each participating club brings car loads of Rotarians to join us. In addition to the march, attendees will have opportunities to participate in other activities at the site where the Motor Home will be park from 1130 until 3 PM. You are welcome to join us anytime starting from 1130 onwards on Wednesday, August 5.
If you are coming, please contact myself or Collyer Smith with approximate number of attendees and instruction for parking your vehicles.
