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Jeff Norman Obituary

Jeff Norman
September 19, 1951 ~ October 31, 2007
BIG SUR, CA – Jeff Norman died too soon, at the age of 56, from complications following heart surgery. He was born in Oakland, CA and moved to Pebble Beach in 1962 with his parents, Don and Kathy Norman. A naturalist from a very young age, at 14, he discovered a fern unknown in Monterey County at Pico Blanco Boy Scout Camp and at age 15, he was the youngest person hired as a lab technician at Hopkins Marine Station, launching his career in biology. He graduated from Pacific Grove High School in 1969. He attended UCSC, where he was an avid student of Gandhi's teachings, studied Non-Violence for Social Change, and was prepared to declare himself a conscientious objector in the draft for the Vietnam war. Jeff's life work and passion was preserving the integrity of the Big Sur Coast. He lived in Palo Colorado and Bixby Canyons, and on the Post Ranch before acquiring his home, Alta Vista, a unique, handsplit redwood cabin that was built in the 1920's by the Overstroms, a homesteading couple. For 28 years Jeff lived in his beloved remote sanctuary on the South Coast of Big Sur, three miles above the highway with no road access. As a consulting biologist, cultural historian, and author, he was fiercely protective of both the biological habitat and the social culture unique to the region. His enthusiasm for gathering information, seeking answers, and solving puzzles was insatiable, whether in finding a new species of clover, or swapping wild tales with an old timer, or locating an historic photo in someone's family album revealing a piece of unknown history about the coast. His knowledge of the natural and
cultural history of Monterey County was phenomenal.
He was an expert botanist, working for the U.S. Forest Service, State Parks, UC Santa Cruz, Big Sur Natural History Association, Esalen Institute, Monterey County Planning and Building Inspection Department and others. In 2002 he served as botany leader for the Peninsula Geology Society's trip in the Northern Santa Lucia Mountains. An active member of the California Native Plant Society, he was consultant for the Big Sur Land Trust and the Monterey Pine Forest Watch.
He was a friend and chronicler of the larger-than-life characters of Big Sur, including homesteader families such as the Posts, Harlans, Ewoldsens, Pfeiffers, and Trotters, artists and bohemians, including Jaime DeAngulo and Harry Dick Ross, intellectuals, conservationists, ranchers, and just plain folk. Jeff himself was one of the biggest characters of them all, living a feisty, vigorous life. He was in his element when he was lecturing on local history and natural history at libraries, museums, Pacific Valley School and Big Sur Elderhostel or presenting talks on Robinson Jeffers for the Tor House Foundation. He was a charter member of the Big Sur Historical Society and past president and member of the Friends of the Big Sur Library.
In 2004 Jeff co-authored Images of America: Big Sur with the Big Sur Historical Society, a book that traced the history of the coast from the days of the homesteaders with numerous never-before-seen photographs of the coast. He also co-authored Big Sur Observed with Kip Stewart in 1994, and was a major contributor to Donald Clark's Monterey County Place Names (1991), and to numerous newspapers, magazines, and local publications. At the time of his death he was energetically at work on a new book about the bohemians of Big Sur and Carmel.
Jeff's death is an enormous loss to his friends, his family, and the Big Sur community. He was a powerful voice for the people and the habitats of Big Sur. Jeff is survived by his sister, Cynthia Hubbard; his brother-in-law, Bob Tripp; his nephew, Joaquin Hubbard; and Joaquin's daughter, Marissa, all of Friday Harbor, Washington. A gathering to commemorate his life will take place in Big Sur in the near future. Please send an email to [email protected] to leave a memory about Jeff and to be contacted about the gathering.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Monterey Herald on Nov. 11, 2007.

Memories and Condolences
for Jeff Norman

15 Entries

George St Clair

November 5, 2024

Remembering Jeff Norman, Big Sur's natural and cultural historian par excellence...

GAIL GAIL

October 31, 2019

He was the best

Denise Sallee

November 19, 2007

Jeff and I first met when we were in the 7th grade in Pacific Grove - I remember it as my first "Sock Hop" and when JFK was assassinated. Then I moved far, far away. It was much later after I returned that I reconnected with Jeff. I was the librarian for the Carmel library's history room and I would help Jeff with research in exchange for hearing his wonderful stories. He always made me laugh - he was irreverent and I loved that!

Jeff has been supportive of all my research endeavors and became a great friend. I hope, that in my own work, I might pay tribute to Jeff's integrity.

Miss you!
Love,
Denise Sallee

Drew Ready

November 19, 2007

I was one of the fortunate students who got to visit Jeff at Alta Vista. Robert Alexander, teaching wilderness leadership classes at CSU, Monterey Bay, took small groups of us for weekend sojourns up the hill. Under the stars, Jeff would weave the stories of the history of Big Sur well into the night. 4000+ years in almost a single breath. His deep ecological understanding and his enthusiasm for the cultural history of the region will continue to inspire us to dig in to the special places we call home.

Robert Alexander

November 19, 2007

Jeff Norman was an amazing man, a rare specimen who taught through living by example.

I will cherish the memories I have of times spent with him at his beloved Alta Vista.

He spent time as if he had all of it in the world. He taught me about Big Sur's wonderful wild mushrooms and we shared some great meals from the bounty of our hunts which will never be forgotten.

Most importantly, Jeff welcomed my students from CSUMB and myself to his home, Alta Vista, to drink deep from his endless spring of knowledge.

To this day students refer to that experience as "Legendary".

Jeff, you were an exemplar of one who lives with intelligence and integrity.

You are missed.

Love,

Robert Alexander
Founder, CSUMB
Outdoor Recreation Program

Sus Danner

November 18, 2007

When longtime Big Sur rancher Don Harlan died, I remember Jeff telling me that Big Sur was reduced by Don's death. That is how I feel about losing Jeff. Jeff exemplified what is great about Big Sur. He was smart, self-sufficient, good at improvising, artistic, sarcastic, charmingly and slightly paranoid, funny, generous, community-minded and never pulled a punch. Whether discussing Jeffers, side-blotched lizards, firefighting, abalone recipes, or Trifolium species (which now, without Jeff, I'll never learn), Jeff was illuminating. He was my favorite polymath, and I'll treasure him forever.

dave nelson

November 16, 2007

Jeff and I shared a great interest in Big Sur flora and history - his professional, mine avocational. We began our friendship about 1981 after discovering this mutual interest and the fact that we were only 3 weeks apart in age. Over the years Jeff was one of my primary teachers. While I would sometimes stump him with a plant identification (leaving specimens on his windshield parked at the bottom of his walk-in route to Alta Vista) he always eventually found the answer. I think all would agree that Jeff put an enormous amount of effort into finding the right answers.

During the Rat Creek fire in July 1985 I was introduced to the CB radio and it became for me, as it already was for many Big Sur residents, the center for community communication. This was before cell phones and internet connectivity were commonplace and we had them in our cars and homes. Jeff’s mountain home to the north of us was in ‘ line-of-sight’ which assured that we could always hear him and vice versa. Always ready to offer an opinion, Jeff, CB handle ‘the Tanbark’, was a regular presence in our house at Rat Creek.

I’ll surely miss the LONG conversations/debates we had in person, on the radio, via email or phone. My life will be a little bit less interesting without him.

Jeff on Pico Blanco 6/2003 Photo by Sus Danner

November 14, 2007

Chris Lorenc

November 13, 2007

Dear Jeff, thank you for everything. For your heart above all -- and for your deep perception about the hearts and feelings of others. No one has ever known this coast like you have. In that great book of this coast which you are still writing, now that you have this sublime objectivity, you'll have no choice but to finally write a central chapter on one of the very most remarkable people ever to have lived here...yourself.

Terry Trotter

November 13, 2007

Though many years have passed since High school days at P. G. and those memorable summers long ago at Pico Blanco,I would join in my applause with George and Bill and so many others, in celebrating the life of Jeff Norman. My father inscribed a book to me at age twelve-"sometimes today's interests may become tomorrow's life work". For Jeff those words where never more true. His sincerity and passion for the natural world and our relation with it continued throughout his life. What a lucky man he was, as are we for his legacy.

George St. Clair

November 13, 2007

In Jeff's memory, I took a hike up the East Molera Ridge trail last weekend, with it's unparalleled views of Pico Blanco. It brought back memories of our scouting days together. Like the time when as youngsters, Jeff and I joined many others in hiking the slopes of Pico Blanco to protest the proposed mining of limestone by Granite Rock. That day, our route to the summit was blocked by sheriffs. That day too, young Jeff reported a previously unknown plant species!

Flash forward forty some-odd years. Following a recent Big Sur Historical Society meeting he had organized--Jeff reached the summit of his beloved Pico Blanco (ironically, this time with assistance from a Granite Rock employee).

And from the East Molera trail, the magnificent 'steep sea wave of marble' still reigns majestic. The incomparable vistas, the late blooming poppies, the arrival of the monarchs, the soaring red-tailed hawks…they were all there. So too, is Jeff Norman.

Bill Roberts

November 13, 2007

I was Jeff's senior patrol leader in Scouts about 45 years ago. He was such a prodigy that he infuriated many of us with his knowledge, but you could see his genius then. We've lost an original. His book on Big Sur history was quite memorable.

Jeff's Place

Boon Hughey

November 12, 2007

The mountains just don't seem the same without you, Jeff. You were a huge influence on my life, for which I am forever grateful. Best wishes on your way up the trail. You are deeply missed by many.

Paul Von Protz

November 11, 2007

With my sister Barbara, it was a pleasure dealing with you - Jeff, and sharing our photographs and history of my families (Trotter's and Pfeiffer's) to help him with the book that you co-authored about Big Sur. Barbara helped to insure that the facts were correct. Jeff, thank you for your fine work, and indeed, you will be missed.

Ruby Fierro

November 11, 2007

The world has lost one of the most truly genuine people I have ever met. I only hope that he knew how much I cherish the time he spent with my sister and me, for the information he shared and seflessly giving of himself and his time. My sister and I were on a search to see our "roots" (we are the grandchildren of Ruby Ellen Geer) and called Jeff for some information. Without hesitation he offered to spend the day with us and subsequently accompanied us to the homestead, beach and cemetary. Without him we would not have the growing Pfieffer roses or naked ladies to bloom in the spring. Without him our trip would not have been nearly as fufilling. I only hope he knows what a significant impact he had on our lives by giving his time and knowledge. That was truly a special time and most of the credit for that goes to him. He gained us access to places we really wanted to go and was so pleasantly boyish in his joy in telling us stories about our family background and relatives he knew. It was simply one of those significant life events; and it was made possible and more memorable and delightful because of Jeff. The fact that I only knew him one day and his passing brings me such sadness is a testiment to what a truly special person he was.

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