Norman Saltnes

Norman T. Saltnes 90, long time San Francisco resident died October 20, 2010 at his home in the San Francisco Towers. Known affectionately as NTS ("NUTS"), Mr. Saltnes was born in Brooklyn NY, November 1, 1920 and served in WWII a fighter pilot in the Marines. A member of VMF155, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with Gold Star and seven Air Medals during his tour of the Pacific theater from 1944 to 1945. The 1947 graduate of UC California, Berkeley, began his business career with Standard Oil of New Jersey, rising to the position of Director for ESSO's Operations in Denmark, Norway and Sweden. Mr. Saltnes returned to the Bay Area in 1971 and operated Saltnes VW/Subaru on Van Ness Avenue until his retirement in 1985. NTS was known as a true gentleman with a real zest for life and unbridled love of the Bay Area from his time at Cal until his death. He wrote- "My own, not very profound conclusion, is that Life is a random event. Unplanned and without purpose. It's meaning is what each individual makes of it. Live it to the full; do as little harm as possible; try to make Life for others a bit brighter." NTS is survived by sons John of Sacramento and Lee of Benicia. It was his desire that no services be held, the eulogies be brief and preferably said over a beverage at one of the many San Francisco restaurants he patronized. His will be remembered as a life well lived!