Remembering William B. Norden, founding member and former Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Olin College of Engineering.
Dear Friends and Colleagues of Olin,
It is with deep sadness that I write to share the news that William B. Norden, a member of Olin’s Board of Trustees for nearly 30 years, who served as Founding Member Board Chair from 2006-2015, passed away early last week after a short illness. Bill was surrounded by a loving family, his wife and four daughters. They have asked for privacy at this moment, and we will work with them to celebrate Bill at a later date.
While I only had the privilege of knowing Bill for one year, I came to know him as kind, committed and humble. He was an original Brooklyn “kid” through and through. He graduated from Brooklyn College and went on to get his J.D. from NYU Law School. Even as he attained success as a lawyer, he never forgot where he came from and cared deeply about ensuring all students received similar opportunities. Bill never trumpeted his role at Olin, but his expertise ensured Olin became a reality and changed the lives of so many for the better.
He was happiest, however, when talking about his family and always happy to brag about them. He raised four daughters, had three granddaughters, and most recently welcomed his first grandson. He positively beamed rays of sunshine when describing their achievements and volunteer work, following closely in his footsteps. He always considered their happiness and successes to be his proudest achievements.
Bill influenced generations of Olin graduates, staff and faculty. When we last spoke in May, he reminded me “Olin was founded to do great things. I hope you will take a risk and do something big.” To the very end, he was encouraging us to live up to his expectations and make a difference in this world. I know I join many of you in saying I will miss him dearly. The world needs more Bill Nordens.
Warmly,
May
R. May Lee
President, Olin College of Engineering
