Norman Ralph "Skip" McIntyre

1939 - 2025

Norman Ralph "Skip" McIntyre
07/16/1939 - 10/01/2025
Norman Ralph "Skip" McIntyre, 86, passed peacefully surrounded by family on October 1, 2025, in Corte Madera, California.
Born July 16, 1939, in Leavenworth, Kansas, to Norman F. McIntyre and Barbara A. Combs, Skip grew up on the Peninsula, where his love of the outdoors and lifelong sense of adventure first took shape. As a child, he spent his youth camping, scouting, waterskiing, and running track and playing football-and he especially cherished traveling with his grandfather on the Santa Fe Super Chief train to and from Kansas to the Bay Area, a trip that ignited his fascination with the wider world. A gifted athlete with a lightning-fast serve that "no one could return," Skip played tennis competitively and recreationally well into his 60s, embodying both vigor and grace in every game.
Skip went on to graduate from Menlo-Atherton High School and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business from Menlo College, setting the foundation for a long and distinguished career in the insurance industry. He was widely known as an accomplished insurance broker and trusted advisor in risk management analysis. Starting out his career at Allstate, over the decades, he held executive leadership roles with Flynn Gray & Herterich, Thoits Insurance, AJG Insurance, and PVI Insurance. His work extended across life sciences, biotech, real-estate development, educational institutions, and the preservation of California open space-fields where his integrity, insight, and generosity left a lasting mark. Among his proudest achievements were mentoring younger associates, both personally and through his esteemed "bootcamp" training program and serving on and advising numerous boards that benefited from his counsel. He also served twice as President of the University Club in Palo Alto and the Naval Academy Parents Club, where he built lifelong friendships.
Skip's greatest joy, however, was found outside the office. In 1959, he met Lucianne Ritter at Stanford Sierra Camp on Fallen Leaf Lake, a place that became the heart of their family's story. They were married soon after and had recently celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary. Skip and Luci spent summers at the lake for more than six decades-sharing its beauty with four generations of family and friends. In a wonderful continuation of tradition, both their son Todd and daughter Talley met their own spouses at Stanford Sierra Camp.
Skip's life was filled with movement, music, and connection. He loved waterskiing, tennis, photography, kayaking, free-diving, baseball games and spending time with family at Fallen Leaf Lake, in Hawaii, Tomales Bay, and along the California coast. Whether on the water, behind a camera, or gathered around a table with good food, wine, and laughter, Skip was always at the center-affable, humble, and kind to everyone he met, from lifelong friends to servers, valets, and neighbors. He was always impeccably dressed, with an effortless sense of style that perfectly suited every occasion-whether a board meeting, a family dinner, a lakeside gathering, or mowing the lawn. He treated every person with warmth and respect, making all feel seen and valued.
Known for being at least two hours early to everything ("Let's get this show on the road!"), Skip approached life with enthusiasm and generosity. He was a connector-someone who dropped quick notes or emails just to say hello or share an article he thought you'd like. Even in his final chapter, as he faced dementia and other physical challenges, his positivity, humor, and kindness shone through to everyone around him.
Skip is survived by his beloved wife, Lucianne McIntyre; his children, Trevor McIntyre (Holly McIntyre), Todd McIntyre (Betsy McIntyre), and Talley McIntyre Henry (Michael Henry); his grandchildren, Brittany Enos (Ikaika Enos), Connor McIntyre, Madison McIntyre Gorlach (David Gorlach), Ryan McIntyre, Mason McIntyre, Noel Henry, and Lucianne Henry; and his great-grandchildren, Kamila, Kilinoe, Kala'i, and Kawika Enos, and newest addition, George Gorlach. He also leaves his sister Anne McIntyre and brother Sherwood McIntyre and was predeceased by his parents and his brother James McIntyre.
The family will be celebrating Skip's life privately. In lieu of flowers, the family invites donations to Mid-Peninsula Open Space (www.openspace.org) or POST (Protecting Open Space for Benefit of All www.openspacetrust.org) in his honor.
Skip's life was defined by joy, curiosity, humility, and connection. He made his childhood dreams come true by building a loving family, enjoying a lifetime of travel and adventure, and raising his children in Palo Alto-the community he cherished. His legacy lives on in the laughter, courage, kindness, and love of the family and friends he inspired every day of his remarkable life.