JERRY BROWNING NORRIS "HUNKY DORY, PEACHY KEEN" JERRY B. NORRIS, 73, of Honolulu, died Nov. 24, 2015 in Honolulu. He recently retired from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA). Born in San Francisco, he spent his early years in the Philippines when his mother and father (a purser in the Merchant Marines during WWII) were sent to assist with the new, post-War, American President Lines office. Jerry's childhood there was a happy one with many stories to tell later in life. After the family returned to San Francisco, Jerry continued with school, joined the Marine Corps, served at Camp Pendleton, then at Camp Smith in Hawai'i. After his honorable discharge, he earned his AA degree in Government from San Francisco City College and worked as an archivist at the UCSF Medical Center. He earned BA degrees in Public Administration and Political Science. He became a supervisor at the UCSF Medical Library, then was hired by the Western Region Office of the Council of State Governments. In 1989, while attending the National Governors Association meeting in Washington, DC, Jerry was hired by Hawai'i Governor George Ariyoshi, Chairman of the new Pacific Basin Development Council, based in Honolulu. Jerry moved back to Honolulu as PBDC's first Executive Director. Its board still consists of the four Governors of Hawai'i, American Samoa; Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands. Jerry guided the initial development of PBDC into a truly viable Pacific Basin organization. PBDC was a leader in raising issues of climate change and sea level rise from its earliest days. PBDC was vital in establishing the Nation's first domestic coral reef program, under President Clinton's Coral Reef Task Force. PBDC worked with NOAA, Department of the Interior, the University of Guam's Marine Laboratory and island Coastal Zone Management officials to ensure high-level efforts to protect critical resources. The importance and impact of the 200- mile Exclusive Economic Zone in the Pacific emerged from island coastal zone conferences and projects with Jerry's support. PBDC produced the initial Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary's EIS & Management Plan and helped with public input. Jerry continued his support by serving as OHA's representative to the Sanctuary's Advisory Council for many years. Under his direction, PBDC made significant contributions that advanced the social and economic conditions in Pacific islands. Among the most significant projects was PEACESAT, a communications link that brought the first internet service to remote villages in American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands; also the Marshall Islands; Federated States of Micronesia and Palau. This ushered in distance learning and telemedicine in the 1990s, when the internet was not accessible. PEACESAT's increasing resilience throughout the Pacific region has saved lives. Jerry was a natural networker and facilitator, engaging experts and officials from the federal government and Pacific Basin island nations to collaborate regarding challenges facing the islands. PBDC worked with FEMA to develop building codes appropriate to the islands, designed to reduce damage and save lives in areas subject to increasing disasters. These codes became the foundation for FEMA's Hazard Mitigation program in Hawai'i & other Pacific islands. PBDC - with the U.S. State Department - conducted diplomatic training and protocol standards for the Freely Associated States, Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of Palau. After serving as PBDC's Executive Director for nineteen years, he was asked by OHA to serve as their first Federal Desk Officer, working directly with OHA's Administrator and Deputy Director. At OHA, he produced over 150 one-hour public access television programs via 'Olelo, bringing many topics and forum participants to the table from his extensive background. These televised shows were free to the public, also available via internet and included call-in episodes, for public participation. He brought fellow OHA staff on board to learn television production and strengthen teamwork. This became an award winning series. Jerry also was an integral part of a monthly radio program ("Na 'Oiwi 'Olino). Hosted by DJs Kimo Kahoano and Brickwood Galuteria, it was furthering OHA's outreach to anyone wanting to understand or comment on Hawaiian issues. In more recent years, Jerry worked with OHA's Compliance Division. When he retired from OHA, he returned as a volunteer. Jerry was always striving for consensus and inclusion among people. He maintained lengthy alliances at all levels of government, from business travels throughout the Pacific Basin to Washington, DC. Presidents, Prime Ministers, Governors, Congressional members and staff remained among his many first-name friends. Jerry served for many years on Boards, Committees or working partnerships with the Mililani Neighborhood Board, Hemophilia Foundation of Hawai'i, Nature Conservancy, Sierra Club, Historic Hawai'i Foundation, Hawai'i Red Cross, Civil Defense, Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, Papahanaumokuaea Marine National Monument & others. Jerry is survived by his wife of over twenty years, Merrie Carol. He is also survived by 2 sons: John (Renata); Thomas (Megan); a granddaughter; sisters Jane Deovlet (Rick) and Gail (Ron) Rogers. THANKSGIVING FOR JERRY'S LIFE & CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE PACIFIC: TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 2016 CENTRAL UNION CHURCH: Visitation 9 a.m. / Service 10 a.m. / Pupus 11 a.m. National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific: 2 p.m. Military Service Donations in Jerry's name may be made to the USS Missouri Fdn; Rainbow Friends ("no kill") Animal Shelter in Hilo; Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. Questions: P.O. Box 695 / Honolulu, HI 96809-0695 or jerrybnorris@gmail.com
JERRY BROWNING NORRIS "HUNKY DORY, PEACHY KEEN" JERRY B. NORRIS, 73, of Honolulu, died Nov. 24, 2015 in Honolulu. He recently retired from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA). Born in San Francisco, he spent his early years in the Philippines when his mother and father (a purser in the Merchant Marines during WWII) were sent to assist with the new, post-War, American President Lines office. Jerry's childhood there was a happy one with many stories to tell later in life. After the family returned to San Francisco, Jerry continued with school, joined the Marine Corps, served at Camp Pendleton, then at Camp Smith in Hawai'i. After his honorable discharge, he earned his AA degree in Government from San Francisco City College and worked as an archivist at the UCSF Medical Center. He earned BA degrees in Public Administration and Political Science. He became a supervisor at the UCSF Medical Library, then was hired by the Western Region Office of the Council of State Governments. In 1989, while attending the National Governors Association meeting in Washington, DC, Jerry was hired by Hawai'i Governor George Ariyoshi, Chairman of the new Pacific Basin Development Council, based in Honolulu. Jerry moved back to Honolulu as PBDC's first Executive Director. Its board still consists of the four Governors of Hawai'i, American Samoa; Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands. Jerry guided the initial development of PBDC into a truly viable Pacific Basin organization. PBDC was a leader in raising issues of climate change and sea level rise from its earliest days. PBDC was vital in establishing the Nation's first domestic coral reef program, under President Clinton's Coral Reef Task Force. PBDC worked with NOAA, Department of the Interior, the University of Guam's Marine Laboratory and island Coastal Zone Management officials to ensure high-level efforts to protect critical resources. The importance and impact of the 200- mile Exclusive Economic Zone in the Pacific emerged from island coastal zone conferences and projects with Jerry's support. PBDC produced the initial Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary's EIS & Management Plan and helped with public input. Jerry continued his support by serving as OHA's representative to the Sanctuary's Advisory Council for many years. Under his direction, PBDC made significant contributions that advanced the social and economic conditions in Pacific islands. Among the most significant projects was PEACESAT, a communications link that brought the first internet service to remote villages in American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands; also the Marshall Islands; Federated States of Micronesia and Palau. This ushered in distance learning and telemedicine in the 1990s, when the internet was not accessible. PEACESAT's increasing resilience throughout the Pacific region has saved lives. Jerry was a natural networker and facilitator, engaging experts and officials from the federal government and Pacific Basin island nations to collaborate regarding challenges facing the islands. PBDC worked with FEMA to develop building codes appropriate to the islands, designed to reduce damage and save lives in areas subject to increasing disasters. These codes became the foundation for FEMA's Hazard Mitigation program in Hawai'i & other Pacific islands. PBDC - with the U.S. State Department - conducted diplomatic training and protocol standards for the Freely Associated States, Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of Palau. After serving as PBDC's Executive Director for nineteen years, he was asked by OHA to serve as their first Federal Desk Officer, working directly with OHA's Administrator and Deputy Director. At OHA, he produced over 150 one-hour public access television programs via 'Olelo, bringing many topics and forum participants to the table from his extensive background. These televised shows were free to the public, also available via internet and included call-in episodes, for public participation. He brought fellow OHA staff on board to learn television production and strengthen teamwork. This became an award winning series. Jerry also was an integral part of a monthly radio program ("Na 'Oiwi 'Olino). Hosted by DJs Kimo Kahoano and Brickwood Galuteria, it was furthering OHA's outreach to anyone wanting to understand or comment on Hawaiian issues. In more recent years, Jerry worked with OHA's Compliance Division. When he retired from OHA, he returned as a volunteer. Jerry was always striving for consensus and inclusion among people. He maintained lengthy alliances at all levels of government, from business travels throughout the Pacific Basin to Washington, DC. Presidents, Prime Ministers, Governors, Congressional members and staff remained among his many first-name friends. Jerry served for many years on Boards, Committees or working partnerships with the Mililani Neighborhood Board, Hemophilia Foundation of Hawai'i, Nature Conservancy, Sierra Club, Historic Hawai'i Foundation, Hawai'i Red Cross, Civil Defense, Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, Papahanaumokuaea Marine National Monument & others. Jerry is survived by his wife of over twenty years, Merrie Carol. He is also survived by 2 sons: John (Renata); Thomas (Megan); a granddaughter; sisters Jane Deovlet (Rick) and Gail (Ron) Rogers. THANKSGIVING FOR JERRY'S LIFE & CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE PACIFIC: TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 2016 CENTRAL UNION CHURCH: Visitation 9 a.m. / Service 10 a.m. / Pupus 11 a.m. National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific: 2 p.m. Military Service Donations in Jerry's name may be made to the USS Missouri Fdn; Rainbow Friends ("no kill") Animal Shelter in Hilo; Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. Questions: P.O. Box 695 / Honolulu, HI 96809-0695 or jerrybnorris@gmail.com
Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased
