Dr. Richard Nordstrom, professor emeritus of marketing, died on Aug. 12 at age 89. He started at Fresno State in 1980 and served as the chair of the Marketing Department from 1990 to 1994. A successful businessman, marketing consultant and researcher, Nordstrom wrote three books and over 100 journal articles on subjects as diverse as marketing strategy, customer loyalty, pricing nonprofit services, the institutional cultures of hospitals and a pioneering study of the use of computers in business education.

“He was the first department chair of the Craig School of Business Marketing Department and was an ardent supporter of his faculty colleagues until his passing. He was a caring, sharing colleague who, as department chair, supported his faculty to the fullest degree,” said Dr. Susan Geringer, a professor in the Marketing Department.

Nordstrom was born in 1933 in Topeka, Kansas. After graduating from the University of Kansas in 1954, Nordstrom served two years in the Navy and owned and managed his own auto dealership, Nordstrom Ford of Newton, Kansas, from 1958 to 1970. After receiving a Master of Business Administration from Wichita State University in 1969 and a doctorate in business administration from the University of Arkansas, Nordstrom became an academic, working as an associate professor at Western Illinois University from 1974 to 1980 and from 1980 to 2003 at Fresno State.

An active member of Hope Lutheran Church in Fresno, Nordstrom was an avid golfer, fisherman and University of Kansas basketball fan. He is survived by Margaret, his wife of 64 years, his son Neal, his daughter Pam and four granddaughters. His memorial service was held Sept. 3 at Hope Lutheran Church.