Norman Gustaveson

Norman Francis Gustaveson

April 6, 1930 - February 12, 2016

Chapel Hill

Norman Francis Gustaveson, 85, of Chapel Hill, North Carolina died on Friday, February 12, 2016 at Carol Woods Retirement Community. He was born on April 6, 1930 in Ottumwa, Iowa to Francis Gustaveson and Hazelle Hyndman Gustaveson.

As a lifelong scholar and social advocate, Norm completed his undergraduate degree at Drake University in Iowa in 1956 and received a Masters of Divinity from the University of Chicago in 1959. He continued to do postgraduate work at the London School of Economics and Political Science in 1960. He served as the Secretary of the Campus Y at the University of North Carolina from 1964 to 1976. Norm was the faculty advisor to the UNC chapter of Students for a Democratic Society during the Speaker Ban controversy, 1965-1966. He was nominated as a member of the honorary society, Order of the Golden Fleece, for his lasting contributions to the University. He later served as an Orange County commissioner from 1974-1982. He was passionate about social justice, land conservation, the environment, and energy consumption. He was a charter board member of the Triangle Land Conservancy and was also active in the Eno River Association.

Norm is survived by his wife, Nancy Scaief Gustaveson. He is also survived by his sons, Eric Gustaveson and wife Kathy of Boone, NC, Mark Gustaveson of Greensboro, NC, and daughter, Amy Robbins and husband Mark of Charlottesville, VA; granddaughters, Anna Gustaveson and husband Daniel Bullock, Kelsey Gustaveson, and Kara Gustaveson; grandsons, Will Gustaveson, Luke Robbins, Chase Robbins, and Jack Robbins; and extended family, Mark Durway, Lindsey Durway, and Kristin Whitesides and their families.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, February 28 at the Carol Wood's Assembly Hall at 2pm with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Eno River Association at enoriver.org or the Triangle Land Conservancy at triangleland.org