Norris Gurnsey Nims Jr. ’59

Norris Gurnsey Nims Jr. ’59 passed away unexpectedly at his winter home in Belen, New Mexico, on May 1. Norrie entered Dartmouth from his home in Keene, New Hampshire, and nearby Dublin School. At Dartmouth Norrie was on the soccer, cross-country ski and jumping teams and served on ski patrol. He was on the Olympic skiing search committee. Dartmouth’s Northern studies programs, skiing and summer work in the Arctic led to his 47-year residency in Alaska. He taught in a number of Native villages in Alaska. His military service was unconventional, as he commanded an Eskimo Scout reconnaissance team. Norrie then was attached to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the balance of his 18 years in reserve activities. In 1974 he began working on the construction of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline. He retired in 1993 as a civil maintenance supervisor for Alyeska Pipeline Service Co. He was a pilot, electrician, mechanic, builder, gardener and expert hunter. In 1996 Norrie and wife Sue (who predeceased Norrie) settled in Belen, New Mexico, for the winters. Every summer they would drive the 3,600 miles back to the Valdez, Alaska, area to enjoy the outdoors and hunt. Norrie closed his note in the 50th reunion book by saying: “My ties to Dartmouth have been tenuous primarily because we have lived in areas where Dartmouth is relatively unknown. It is a rare and happy event when I meet a fellow Dartmouth alum or undergraduate.” His sons Josh and Seth and sister Sydney survive Norrie.