Bruce Nordstrom (1933-2024) was a businessman and philanthropist in Seattle. The grandson of founder John W. Nordstrom, he served as president and chair of the Nordstrom department store as it grew from a chain of shoe stores to become an international fashion retailer.

As a youth, Bruce worked in the stockroom and on the sales floor of the downtown Seattle Nordstrom shoe store weekends and summers, before leaving to attend college at the University of Washington. Bruce was made president of the company in 1963 and was part of the third generation of family leadership that took over the company in 1968. Bruce and his cousins Jim and John Nordstrom, and cousin-in-law Jack McMillan are credited with the company's success and expansion across the nation.

In addition to his work in the family business, Bruce volunteered with nonprofit and civic organizations in Seattle. He served as president of the Downtown Seattle Association, Children’s Hospital Foundation and Seattle Goodwill. He also served as chairman of the United Way of King County Campaign in 1984.

Here, Bruce Nordstrom speaks at the Nordstrom, Inc. annual meeting in Seattle in 1989.

Caption information source: Bruce Nordstrom obituary, Seattle Times, May 18, 2024. Retrieved at https://www.seattletimes.com/business/nordstroms-former-ceo-bruce-nordstrom-is-dead-at-90/