Norm died peacefully at his home on August 26, 2015 surrounded by his children. He was born in Portland, Oregon in 1927 and grew up playing on the shores of Puget Sound in the Dash Point area near Tacoma, Washington. Norm graduated from Stadium High School in Tacoma in 1945, and then the University of Washington in 1951, with a degree in civil engineering. Prior to his college graduation he attended Washington State University and served in the Army during 1946 and 1947, where he was stationed in Japan designing and constructing airfields. Through determination and hard work (despite hospitali-zation for polio), Norm established an award-winning civil and structural engineering firm in Seattle. Before founding N.G. Jacobson and Associates, Inc. in 1958, he served in the Army Corps of Engineers, and was employed as a structural engineer and project manager by two major Seattle engineering firms. He also worked as an Assistant Professor of Architecture/Engineering at the University of Washington. For over 45 years Norm worked tirelessly to advance the engineering profession. He was registered in nine States and "Designer of Record" for 18 award-winning projects, and spent the majority of his life striving for "Design Excellence". He made an immense contribution to the field by increasing public and professional recognition of the changing role of Consulting Engineers' leadership position in project design.
He was preceded in death by his mother and father, Nellie M and Norman G Jacobson, his sister Barbara (Jacobson) Gramm, and his wife of over 61 years, Janis M (Turner) Jacobson in 2012. Norm leaves behind his brother William Jacobson, three children and six grandchildren: Gregory N Jacobson (Barbara), Jon S Jacobson (Cory), and Jana Jacobson Flinn (Dan); Kell Jacobson, Kevin Jacobson, Jorja Jacobson, Alexander Jacobson, Lauren Flinn and Cole Flinn.
Norm was an active member of Rotary International, Seattle 4 section for 37 years and 50 year member of the University Congregational Church. He enjoyed alpine skiing and exercising at the Washington Athletic Club well into his 80's.
He will be missed...
His service will be at the (UCC), University Congregational Church 4515 16th Avenue NE, Seattle, WA 98105 on Sunday, September 20, 2015 at 3:00 pm. In lieu of flowers a donation may be made to the University Congregational Church, "The Jan Jacobson Memorial Fund for Music and Arts".
Burial arrangements under the direction of Acacia Memorial Park & Funeral Home.
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