Norman John Schureman
31 December 1959 - 21 March 2010

“You made ripples that changed our lives....”

This year, our family was devastated by the tragic loss of a family member.  Norman Schureman was a victim of a senseless murder at a party this past March.  Norman and our niece Fati, have been married for the past 13 years, and have two sons, Milo, 12, and Kian, 9.

Norman was a professor at the Pasadena Art Center.  A gentle person, great husband and father, amazing artist, he was the guy who made soup for Thanksgiving parties and mashed potatoes at Christmas.  He loved his garden and often boasted about his 30-foot cacti.  You could find Norman in his backyard on most evenings stoking the fire or relaxing in the Jacuzzi with the wife and kids.  While we have kept many of the details of our loss, private, we did want to share a recent article written by Lara Warren that appeared in the Pasadena Art Center publication Outer Circle.  It sums up the great loss of Norman, not only for his family but also for his extended family at the Art Center, where he was tremendously admired and loved.

... Out of Tragedy Comes Hope for a New Generation Norm Schureman Memorial Scholarship Established for Product Design Students

In late March, the Art Center community was shocked and saddened by the tragic loss of one of its own, faculty member and alumnus Norm Schureman PROD ’85. Schureman was a beloved instructor, colleague, mentor and friend to hundreds of students, faculty, staff and alumni.
“Norm was one of the most influential figures in my career,” said Tyler West PROD ’04. “He inspired me to grow not only as an artist, but as a person as well. His dedication to Art Center was unmatched—he gave everything he had to his students and their growth. I will miss him and the immeasurable pride he had for his students.”
Schureman’s relationship with Art Center began almost 40 years ago when his father, Bob, taught Industrial Design classes and a young Norm would tag along to campus. Years later, Norm returned to Art Center as a student, graduating in 1985 with a bachelor’s degree in Product Design. Schureman began teaching at Art Center in 1992, first at the College’s European campus and then in Pasadena.
“Art Center has been such a big part of my life, as well as the life of my son,” said his father Bob. “I’ve been overwhelmed by the amount of support the Art Center community has given our family during this difficult time.”
Schureman devoted himself to the College, instilling in his students a passion for design, a love for drawing and an eye for excellence. To his Visual Communication, Dynamic Sketching and Product Design classes, he brought criticality tempered with humor. Each term generated new and innovative ideas, images and prototypes. A place in the student gallery was continuously reserved for the phenomenal projects created by his students.
“Norm’s Vis Comm classes profoundly shaped the course of my work after I graduated,” said Thom Olson, ILLU ’00. “He epitomized the Art Center ideal. He was a demanding teacher, yet one who enthusiastically fanned the creative sparks in his students, lifting us up as much as he pushed us.”
“Norm encompassed the highest ideal of an Art Center instructor and designer—an endless curiosity, a boundless commitment to his students, a tenacity for excellence, and an immeasurable loyalty to Art Center,” said Product Design Chair Karen Hofmann. “He is simply irreplaceable. He will be forever missed.”
To help Schureman’s legacy live on, the College established the Norman Schureman Memorial Scholarship, which will be available to incoming Product Design students.
“Norm inspired hundreds of students—not only those that he taught, but those considering whether or not they even had the gumption to apply to Art Center,” President Lorne Buchman said. “One of the ways the College can be true to his memory is to make sure young creatives have access to a first-rate design education.”
To date, $40,620 has been raised for the scholarship.
“Norm loved being a teacher and truly believed an Art Center education was something special,” Schureman’s widow, Fati, said. “Our family is humbled that the College has come together to honor Norm with a scholarship in his name.”
Individuals interested in making donations to the Scholarship can donate online or contact Senior Development Officer Palencia Turner at 626-396-2366.
In addition to the Norman Schureman Memorial Scholarship, the family has opened a trust fund for Schureman’s two young sons. For questions about contributing to the trust, contact Director of Public Relations and Communications Jered Gold at 626-396-2251.