Obituaries

Recent Obituaries
In Memoriam Archive

Norman L. Yeon ’37

Norman LeRoy Yeon ’37, January 5, 2004, in Portland, Oregon. Norman earned a bachelor’s degree from Reed in general literature. He pursued graduate studies in fine arts at the Sorbonne in Paris and in Perugia, Italy, and in sociology at Columbia University. For a brief period, he worked in state-sponsored social programs in Oregon and California. During World War II, Norman served in the U.S. Army Signal Corps, including two years in Alaska. After the war he returned to Portland and opened Crossroads, a shop featuring artistic works he selected in Europe and India. He eventually closed the shop and moved to San Francisco, pursuing an interest in real estate. After purchasing and developing land on the Oregon coast, he divided his time between the two locations. His interest in Oregon land use laws, coastal planning, and preservation of the Siskiyou National Forest and the Columbia River Gorge, influenced his decision to reside permanently in Oregon. Norman enjoyed art, 19th-century furniture, and classical music. He was described as a private man, who sponsored many philanthropic efforts anonymously. Survivors include his sister.

Appeared in Reed magazine: May 2004

comments powered by Disqus