Norma Urban

"Live so that when your children think of fairness, caring and integrity, they think of you." This is a quote that Norma Urban kept under her desk glass to look at every day, and this is how she lived. She was the type of woman to lead by example. She always set a very high standard for herself and by doing so encouraged those around her to do the same. To Norma, everything and everyone held such potential. She saw potential in her friends. She surrounded herself with great company and that has been so very clear over the past few months as she fought for her life. Her loyalty and caring touched everyone in her life and they have come to return that gift many times over in their caring and support during the tough times. She saw potential in her family. She always encouraged her kids to follow their own path and to follow it with the courage, grace and passion that she has shown in her own work. She saw incredible potential in the Corpus Christi downtown when others failed to see it. She spent the last thirteen years of her life as the executive director of the Downtown Management District devoting great energy and talent to the improvement of the heart of this city. Anyone who knew her or worked with her can tell you how it filled every aspect of her life. Norma Urban passed away in the early hours of last Tuesday morning in her home, surrounded by her grown children. She was fighting breast cancer for the third time and did it with huge courage and grace. She has left a hole in the hearts of her family and community that will be enormous. Norma Urban is survived by her three children, Camille Urban Jobe, son in law Bryan Jobe and grandson Cooper Jobe of Austin, Texas, Chip Urban of Corpus Christi, Texas and Hayes Urban of Austin, Texas; her brother Robert Rhodes of Atlanta, Georgia. Her parents, Norman Rhodes and Grace Moffett are deceased. Norma set up a foundation in the last year to acquire, install and maintain works of art in the downtown area. In honor of Norma’s passions, the family requests that friends consider making a donation to the cause she has held so close for so long. This project brought two of her great loves together to help make the place she loved brighter for everyone else who experiences it. Donations should be sent to the Coastal Bend Community Foundation in Norma Urban’s memory at 600 Leopard Street, Suite 1716, Corpus Christi, Texas 78473. A memorial service will be held at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Corpus Christi on Monday, March 24, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. Norma personally requested that there be no gloomy, dark attire. Please honor her by wearing something bright, in celebration of her life.