WHAT DETERMINES the measure of a man? Those who knew Norman Olsen describe him as a gentleman with a kind and generous soul and a loving spirit. He treated everyone equally and with respect, possessing his own unique zest for life and infectious optimism. “He never met a stranger,” says daughter Freya Olsen. “He was a man of action whose daily goal was to help change the lives of others for the better.”

Norman Oscar Olsen, devoted father, lifelong sailor and ambassador of the sport— with more than 100,000 miles of ocean racing experience—passed away peacefully on February 15 in Belleair, Florida at the age of 91.

Born in Wilmington, Delaware, on March 25, 1930, to Oscar E. and Viola (nee Pace) Olsen, Norman grew up in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania and Annapolis, Maryland. During his life, he lived in a number of other areas of the country, including Oyster Bay, New York, Chicago, Florida, Northern Michigan, and Lake Forest from 1998 to 2015.

It was during his 17 years in Lake Forest that Olsen made his mark on the community and particularly on the Junior Sailing Program at Lake Forest Parks & Recreation (LFPR). The fledgling program was run down with little participation, so Olsen jumped right in, making a pitch to LFPR to revitalize the program. In five months, Olsen took action, reaching out to members of the community to secure donations of sailboats and all the gear necessary to run successful “learn to sail” classes. The program flourished.

“Norman was a very supportive mentor to me,” says Joe Harris, Director of Lake Forest Sailing from 2005 to 2009. “He always had a bigger vision, to change the culture of the program to be inclusive and have a team spirit. It’s a testament to his legacy.”

“Norman had a lifelong passion for getting people involved in sailing at a young age, no matter their background,” says Hunter Ratliff, an accomplished sailboat racer and instructor who served as Director of Lake Forest Sailing for nearly 10 years. “He established scholarships to encourage those who could not afford to participate get involved and stay in the sport.”

By 2002, U.S. Sailing Association awarded Lake Forest Sailing the “Outstanding Year-Round Sailing Program” and “Outstanding Illinois Park District Program of the Year.” A perpetual trophy in his name, the “Norman Olsen Sailor of the Year,” is awarded to sailors demonstrating sportsmanship, dedication, and enthusiasm for the sport of sailing.

Ensuring the success of Lake Forest’s sailing program was about much more than sailing for Olsen. He was a tireless advocate for the character development of young people.

In a 2010 article in Forest & Bluff, Olsen said, “The activity of sailing teaches independent thinking, development of team spirit and cooperation, promotion of healthy competitive attitudes, and the ability to make quick decisions in the face of challenging conditions. It is through the adoption of these positive cultural values that sailing helps young Americans to become individual thinkers capable of becoming responsible, resourceful, and solid citizens who can and will contribute positively to their future and the future of the United States of America.”

Olsen’s dedication to youth stemmed from his role as father to his own seven children.

“Anyone who knew my dad knew that his greatest source of pride and joy was his kids, and he loved nothing more than being a father,” says Freya Olsen. “He was a constant source of love, support, and encouragement.”

Even in the face of devastating loss, Olsen chose to go on. In 1957, he experienced the profound loss of his 4-year-old son (with then wife, Joan), Norman Jr. “Bubby,” in a tragic accident. Amidst a level of grief beyond comprehension, Olsen pushed onward, working to adopt the mindset of “gratitude over grief ” that he was called upon to use over the course of his life.

In 1987, he lost his second wife of 13 years and “the love of his life” Dottie, mother to their daughters Kirstin and Freya, to breast cancer. And, in 1996, he was devastated by the loss of his second oldest daughter, Andrea “Andy” Olsen, to melanoma at the age of 38.

Prior to his success at Lake Forest Sailing, Olsen founded and helped to fund the Clearwater Community Sailing Center in Florida, producing three Silver Medal winners in the Summer Olympics of 1992 and 2008, and the Paralympics in 2016.

Over the course of his career, Olsen worked for The Skipper magazine early on, and Center Press in Chicago years later. In the interim, he spent 15 years as a vice president of marketing and sales in product development and promotion. Then, as a mergers and acquisitions specialist on Wall Street, Olsen found his calling and laid the foundation for establishing his own consulting firm, Management Meeting Consultants, Inc. in 1976, serving as president until his passing. Last year, he fulfilled his lifelong dream of publishing a book, Ronny Come Home! about his childhood dog and best friend.

Olsen is survived by his loving children and biggest fans, Karin Olsen Campia (Ken), Roderick Pace Olsen (Debbie), Michelle “Mimi” Olsen Baden, Kirstin Rode Olsen, Freya Alexandra Olsen, and his four cherished grandchildren Victoria Madison Campia, Sigourney Tegan Campia, Charlotte Emily Baden, and Bryson Oscar Baden.

Norman Olsen lived a full life indeed—one devoted to family, friends, youth, community, and his unwavering love for the sport of sailing. He will be missed.

A local celebration of life ceremony for Norman O. Olsen will be held at 2 p.m. on May 15 at the Lily Reid Holt Memorial Chapel in Lake Forest. For a complete obituary, including Olsen’s many sailing accomplishments, visit hubbellfuneralhome.com/obituaries.