Norman Allen Spencer passed away peacefully at his home in Tiburon, California, on July 20, 2026, at the age of 83. While his family grieves his loss, they celebrate a life that was rich in love, friendship, and purpose.
Born on August 5, 1942, in Seattle, Washington, to Henry Norman Spencer and Mary Elva Dillingham Spencer, Norm grew up in the Pacific Northwest. He graduated from Roosevelt High School before earning his degree from the University of Washington in 1964.
In 1968, Norm met Sally Kolthoff in San Francisco, where they married in 1974 before moving to Tiburon in 1975. Together they shared 52 wonderful years of marriage, raising a family, traveling, and enjoying life together.
Norm enjoyed an extraordinary 41-year career in commercial real estate—a profession he loved and often said he never considered “work.” He began at Coldwell Banker, where he introduced Hines to the opportunity that became the iconic 101 California Street. It marked the beginning of his distinguished career with Hines, where he spent more than 25 years as an executive in the San Francisco office.
At Hines, Norm was known not only for his expertise and professionalism, but also for his integrity, warmth, and ability to build lasting relationships. He retired in 2010 after contributing to many renowned office buildings throughout Northern and Southern California. To Norm, however, the greatest reward of his career was never the buildings themselves—it was the friendships he made along the way.
At the height of his commercial real estate career, Norm pursued his interest in viticulture at UC Davis, inspired by his growing passion for wine. This led to the creation of Spencer Vineyards in Oakville, where they built a family home that became the backdrop for more than three decades of family dinners, milestone celebrations, summer weekends, and treasured traditions.
Outside the office, Norm embraced life with enthusiasm. Golf was one of his greatest joys, but not because of the score. As a proud member of Meadow Club, Kohanaiki, Summit Muni, and formerly the Olympic Club and Silverado, he treasured the camaraderie, the opportunity to win a few dollars, and the friendships forged over 18 holes. His favorite course was never defined by its scenery—it was wherever he happened to be playing with his buddies, his son Greg, or his grandson Spencer.
A longtime member of The Bohemian Club, Norm cherished the fellowship of his Cliff Dwellers campmates and friendships that endured for decades.
But if you asked Norm what he was most proud of, the answer would never have been his career, the buildings, the vineyard, or the golf. It was his family. Nothing brought him greater joy than being “Grandpa” to Annie, Spencer, Katie, Henry, and Cole. Whether he was cheering from the sidelines, playing tic-tac-toe, or simply spending time together, his grandchildren were the center of his world. They knew him as the grandpa who made them laugh, showed up, and made them feel loved.
To know Norm was to feel included. He had a remarkable ability to make everyone feel like an old friend. He welcomed people effortlessly, remembered names, introduced strangers, and left every gathering richer than he found it. His quick wit kept everyone laughing, and his jokes—sometimes delightfully inappropriate—became legendary among family and friends. He believed in living with intention and often reminded those around him, “Don’t put off until tomorrow what you could do today.” It was advice he lived by every day.
Norm is survived by his beloved wife, Sally; his daughter, Michelle, and her children, Annie, Spencer, and Katie; his son, Gregory, his wife, Katya, and their children, Henry and Cole; his brother, Steven Spencer; and countless friends whose lives were richer because they knew him. He was predeceased by his parents, Henry Norman and Mary Elva Spencer; his brother, Gordon Spencer; and his special uncle, Mike Dillingham, who lived to be 100 years old.
A celebration of Norm’s life will be held in Tiburon, California. Details will be shared with family and friends.
Norm’s life reminds us that success is measured not by titles or accomplishments, but by kindness, generosity, curiosity, and love. His family will forever hear his laughter in a well-told joke, think of him during a round of golf with friends, raise a glass of Cabernet in his honor, and remember that the best days are the ones spent together.
After all, as Norm would always say emphatically, “We are all just passing through!”
