Entrepreneur, inventor, industrialist and philanthropist Eric T. Nord, co-founder of the Nordson Corp., headquartered in Westlake, died Thursday, June 19, 2008, in Oberlin. Mr. Nord was 90.

Entrepreneur, businessman, inventor, engineer, philanthropist, son, husband and father, Mr. Nord was born in 1917, the son of Walter and Virginia Nord. He started his career as an engineer at the U.S. Automatic Corporation in 1939 in Amherst. In 1954, together with his brother Evan, and father Walter, he co-founded Nordson Corporation as a subsidiary of U.S. Automatic.

Mr. Nord served as president of the new Nordson Corp. from 1954 to 1974. During this time, Nordson grew from a small, local business with less than $1 million in annual sales to a publicly-traded, multinational corporation with sales of $121 million and operations in eight countries. In 1974, Eric was elected chairman and chief executive officer. He retired from the position of CEO in 1983, continuing as Chairman of the Board of Directors until October 31, 1997, and remaining as Chairman Emeritus until his death. Today, Nordson has sales of over $1 billion with direct operations in 33 countries.

Eric Nord’s business acumen was paralleled by a lifetime of personal philanthropy involving multiple nonprofit organizations and causes. Mr. Nord, with his family, were catalysts in creating four remarkable philanthropic resources: Nord Family Foundation, Nordson Corporation and its Foundation, the Eric and Jane Nord Foundation and the Community Foundation of Greater Lorain County. Eric’s philanthropic vision was behind more than $100 million of support for charitable and educational causes, particularly in Northern Ohio.

“Eric Nord was an extraordinarily talented business leader as well as a generous and community-minded individual,” said Edward P. Campbell, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Nordson Corp. “His legacy lives through the continuing success of Nordson Corp. The impact of his vision, leadership and philanthropy will continue to be felt for many generations to come.”

“The Nord Family Foundation was always a great source of pride for Eric,” said John Mullaney, Executive Director of The Nord Family Foundation. “Until the very end of his life, he considered stewardship of the community among his highest priorities. Thousands of individuals have and will continue to benefit from his foresight and generosity.”

In addition to his work with the Nord Family Foundation, Mr. Nord served as an honorary trustee of Oberlin College. Past board and community service affiliations include the Oberlin Board of Education, the Oberlin City Council, Firelands Association for the Visual Arts, Lorain County Joint Vocational School, Lorain County United Way, Allen Memorial Hospital, the Greater Cleveland Growth Association (now the Greater Cleveland Partnership) and the Community Foundation of Greater Lorain County.

Mr. Nord attended Amherst High School (class of 1935) and earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Case Institute of Technology, now Case Western Reserve University. In 1989, Oberlin College honored his support and encouragement by awarding him an honorary Doctor of Science degree. Mr. Nord was also the recipient of the Case Alumni Association Gold Medal Award in recognition of outstanding technical innovation, successful business management and dedicated public service. His creativity was reflected in the award of 25 U.S. patents. Mr. Nord was an active member of Christ Episcopal Church in Oberlin.

Mr. Nord is survived by his wife, Jane; and his children, Virginia Barbato (Randall) of New York City, Emily McClintock (T.K.) and Carlotte Berk (Sam) of Cambridge, Mass., Richard Nord (Kathleen) of Vermilion; and 12 grandchildren.

He was predeceased by his son, Eric.

Services are scheduled for 11 a.m., Friday, June 27, 2008, at Finney Chapel on the campus of Oberlin College. A light lunch will follow the services.

In lieu of flowers, gifts in memory of Mr. Nord may be made to The Baker-Nord Center for the Humanities, in care of Case Western Reserve University, Room 124, 10900 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, OH 44106.

 

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