“Giving Warms My Heart” Says Sunny View Resident Wally Norum

Wally and Priscilla Norum moved to Sunny View nearly 10 years ago, when Wally was 90. They had made a deposit at another local community, but decided that Sunny View just felt like home.

“We felt very comfortable, like we belonged,” Wally said. “Other places just felt like hotels.”

Part of what precipitated their move was Priscilla’s declining health. The fact that Sunny View has a superb memory care neighborhood, Summer House, gave them the security that they would both be well supported.

Wally and Priscilla met while at college during World War II. Wally entered the Army, which sent him into the Battle of the Bulge, led by General George S. Patton. After the war, they married and moved to Berkeley, where he finished his engineering degree in 1946. As their family grew, the Norums moved to Illinois and then to Maryland for Wally’s career. After retirement, Priscilla and Wally returned to California, settling in Los Altos, and Wally started an engineering consulting business.

Wally got involved with the Sunny View community right after moving in. Jerry Carter, the chairman of the Employee Appreciation Committee at the time, tapped him to help in this effort and for years, Wally helped raise significant annual holiday tips for the staff, increasing the amount every year.

Through conversations with the Foundation gift officer at the time about the value of education, the Wally and Priscilla Norum Scholarship Fund for employees was born.

“I was inspired to fund this program because of the good people here at Sunny View,” Wally said. “I wanted to support them in furthering their education because that will help them improve their financial situation.”
Each year, the Norum Scholarship Fund through the Foundation provides five $1,000 scholarships to employees. Inspired by Wally’s and Priscilla’s generosity, other residents and family members of residents contribute to the fund as well. To date, 20 Sunny View employees have been able to further their education with help from the scholarship fund.