Norm Glass, 84, of Philomath, Oregon, died peacefully on February 20, 2024, at Good Samaritan hospital in Corvallis.
Norm was born in 1939 in Berkeley, California, to parents Ralph Melville Glass and Olive Elberta Seemans Glass. He was the first of four children, and grew up in Walnut Creek, California.
While still in high school, he met his future wife, Alice Davis. They married in 1958, and he began his academic pursuits at the University of California, Berkeley. He graduated in mathematics and statistics, then went on to obtain a PhD in Zoology from the University of California, Davis. He embarked on a career as a scientist with the Environmental Protection Agency, which took him to Washington, D.C. in 1971. He worked with the EPA in the Special Projects Staff on the Lake Survey Project, which classified the nation’s lakes for eutrophication status.
Norm and Alice had two daughters, Andrea and Caroline, and the young family moved to Oregon in 1971 when he was appointed director of the new National Ecological Research Laboratory in Corvallis. The lab performed research in the areas of air, pesticides and toxic substances pollution. In 1975 the family moved to live on a large piece of land in Philomath, later named Inavale Farm. Eventually Norm left his government job for entrepreneurial pursuits, and started several businesses, including The Computer Exchange, Hi-Tech Inventory Service and Beaver Creek Bourbon. He always enjoyed having a project or a new pursuit to get fully behind, whether it was building a business or building a house.
Norm’s was an example of a full, well-lived life. He wore many hats, literally and figuratively. He was an accomplished scholar, steadfast family man, and a dedicated steward of the land. He had several lifelong loves, including his wife and family, animals, nature, music and springtime. He loved his role as farmer, and could often be found driving a tractor, planting trees, feeding horses, or walking with a dog. He enjoyed fishing and flying, and held a multi-engine private pilot’s certificate. The old airplane he owned for several years had a call sign ending in “19P,” so it was fondly known as “One-NinerPterodactyl.” Not unrelatedly, he had an amazing ability to make machines run just by being near them.
Norm was a kind, strong, dedicated husband and father. He could always be found in a supporting role for his wife and daughters’ pursuits. He was an uncomplaining solver of all problems, from sick dogs to clogged drains. He was known for his ability to answer any question put to him, and his daughters frequently wondered if he was making up his thorough answers (probably not). Want to know how to polish your boots? Figure out a compound angle? Ask Dad. Want to know about mitochondria, or what year Corvette that is? Ask Dad.
Norm loved a good adventure, and took his family, including grandsons when they arrived, on trips all over the world. Whether sightseeing in Ireland, watching a luau in Hawaii, or snorkeling in Grand Cayman, he was always up for doing and seeing new things.
Norm is survived by his wife, Alice Glass; brother, George Glass; sister, Valerie Dambacher; daughters, Andrea Van de Wetering and Caroline Meneghelli; sons-in-law, Luigi Meneghelli, Stan Van de Wetering and Steve Evans; grandsons, Miles Van de Wetering, Parker Van de Wetering and Gino Meneghelli.
A Celebration of Life will be held at the Independent Community Center (31615 Fern Road, Philomath) on March 23 at 11 a.m.