Obituary for H. Gerald "Gerry" Nordberg Jr.
Herman Gerald "Gerry" Nordberg, Jr. died suddenly but peacefully surrounded by family on April 19th at the age of 86 yrs. A part-time turned full-time resident of Coupeville, WA. He resided for 53 years with his wife Linda, a Washington State native, in Chappaqua, NY before moving to Coupeville full-time in 2020.
Gerry was born in 1935 in Evanston, IL and spent his childhood in Geneva, IL. He attended Lake Forest Academy where he played basketball, a sport which he loved and followed passionately. He was a proud member of the Lake Forest Academy’s undefeated basketball team. His love of the game would carry through his entire life and lead him to many arenas big and small to support his various teams of interest. Following LFA he headed east to attend Colgate University graduating in 1957. An active and engaged alumni he regularly attended Colgate men's basketball games. In March, he travelled back to New York to watch Colgate win the 2022 Patriot League which earned them a birth to the NCAA tournament in Milwaukee- which he also attended. He loved sharing in the excitement and was always ready to head off to the next big game or strategize for next season.
Following his graduation from Colgate, Gerry continued his education at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business for an MBA in 1959. Upon graduating from Stanford, he joined the Navy and attended Officer Candidate School in Newport, RI. He became a Lieutenant JG and Naval Intelligence Officer stationed at Sand Point Naval Air Station in Seattle. His decision would be a fortuitous one. While stationed at Sand Point, he met and fell in love with his future wife Linda Farrington, a student at the University of Washington. He also fell in love with the Pacific Northwest. While on Temporary Duty on the Aircraft Carrier USS Coral Sea, as the ship sailed through the Straits of Juan de Fuca, he saw the high cliffs of Whidbey Island. It was love at first sight. He said he knew he wanted to have a house there one day. Linda and Gerry built their Finnish log house 27 years ago and have enjoyed every moment there since. But Whidbey Island would only provide a part time respite since his career was back in New York.
Gerry embarked on his finance career in NYC. He started in institutional sales at Dean Witter and then moved onto First Boston before venturing out on his own and partnering with Peter Reinheimer to form a specialized investment bank and institutional brokerage called Reinheimer Nordberg Inc. After several years, the two parted ways as the firm started to specialize in Scandinavian equities and was renamed Nordberg Capital Inc. in 1988. Gerry’s work in the Nordic region earned him the moniker of Wall Street's "Mr. Scandinavia”. Oft quoted for his keen insight and understanding of the then little known regional markets and companies like Astra, Ericsson and Nokia. He traveled extensively through Northern Europe and was welcomed warmly, Nordberg being a Swedish surname. Gerry and Linda enjoyed their many trips and it was there that he became very interested in glass-blowing and the art of glass. He would begin collecting Nordic glass as well as Pacific Northwest glass artists. Gerry was of half Swedish and half Irish descent, like many Midwesterners. He had Swedish sensibilities and an Irish heart. He was always extremely proud of his midwestern roots and his family farm in Minot, ND.
His interests were many and supporting his various Alma Maters and affiliated schools was important to him. He was a lifetime trustee of Lewis and Clark College and a member of the Maroon Council at Colgate. He loved his family, travel adventure by train, collecting glass, his Labrador Retrievers, the Chicago White Sox, the polar bears of Churchill and discussing all things sports. His interests were varied and his knowledge immense. His encyclopedic knowledge and recall was truly remarkable. He was loved and will be truly missed. He is survived by his loving wife Linda, son Peter Nordberg of Sun Valley, ID and daughter Elizabeth Nordberg Leary of Somers, NY and son in law John Leary. Along with 5 grandchildren- Laila Nordberg, Bo Nordberg, Helena Leary, Patrick Leary and John B. Leary.
Visitation will be held at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Coupeville, WA Monday, April 25th at 9am, followed by Funeral Mass at 10am. Interment at Sunnyside Cemetery immediately following Mass.
Gerry was born in 1935 in Evanston, IL and spent his childhood in Geneva, IL. He attended Lake Forest Academy where he played basketball, a sport which he loved and followed passionately. He was a proud member of the Lake Forest Academy’s undefeated basketball team. His love of the game would carry through his entire life and lead him to many arenas big and small to support his various teams of interest. Following LFA he headed east to attend Colgate University graduating in 1957. An active and engaged alumni he regularly attended Colgate men's basketball games. In March, he travelled back to New York to watch Colgate win the 2022 Patriot League which earned them a birth to the NCAA tournament in Milwaukee- which he also attended. He loved sharing in the excitement and was always ready to head off to the next big game or strategize for next season.
Following his graduation from Colgate, Gerry continued his education at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business for an MBA in 1959. Upon graduating from Stanford, he joined the Navy and attended Officer Candidate School in Newport, RI. He became a Lieutenant JG and Naval Intelligence Officer stationed at Sand Point Naval Air Station in Seattle. His decision would be a fortuitous one. While stationed at Sand Point, he met and fell in love with his future wife Linda Farrington, a student at the University of Washington. He also fell in love with the Pacific Northwest. While on Temporary Duty on the Aircraft Carrier USS Coral Sea, as the ship sailed through the Straits of Juan de Fuca, he saw the high cliffs of Whidbey Island. It was love at first sight. He said he knew he wanted to have a house there one day. Linda and Gerry built their Finnish log house 27 years ago and have enjoyed every moment there since. But Whidbey Island would only provide a part time respite since his career was back in New York.
Gerry embarked on his finance career in NYC. He started in institutional sales at Dean Witter and then moved onto First Boston before venturing out on his own and partnering with Peter Reinheimer to form a specialized investment bank and institutional brokerage called Reinheimer Nordberg Inc. After several years, the two parted ways as the firm started to specialize in Scandinavian equities and was renamed Nordberg Capital Inc. in 1988. Gerry’s work in the Nordic region earned him the moniker of Wall Street's "Mr. Scandinavia”. Oft quoted for his keen insight and understanding of the then little known regional markets and companies like Astra, Ericsson and Nokia. He traveled extensively through Northern Europe and was welcomed warmly, Nordberg being a Swedish surname. Gerry and Linda enjoyed their many trips and it was there that he became very interested in glass-blowing and the art of glass. He would begin collecting Nordic glass as well as Pacific Northwest glass artists. Gerry was of half Swedish and half Irish descent, like many Midwesterners. He had Swedish sensibilities and an Irish heart. He was always extremely proud of his midwestern roots and his family farm in Minot, ND.
His interests were many and supporting his various Alma Maters and affiliated schools was important to him. He was a lifetime trustee of Lewis and Clark College and a member of the Maroon Council at Colgate. He loved his family, travel adventure by train, collecting glass, his Labrador Retrievers, the Chicago White Sox, the polar bears of Churchill and discussing all things sports. His interests were varied and his knowledge immense. His encyclopedic knowledge and recall was truly remarkable. He was loved and will be truly missed. He is survived by his loving wife Linda, son Peter Nordberg of Sun Valley, ID and daughter Elizabeth Nordberg Leary of Somers, NY and son in law John Leary. Along with 5 grandchildren- Laila Nordberg, Bo Nordberg, Helena Leary, Patrick Leary and John B. Leary.
Visitation will be held at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Coupeville, WA Monday, April 25th at 9am, followed by Funeral Mass at 10am. Interment at Sunnyside Cemetery immediately following Mass.