Entrepreneur, Inventor, Industrialist and Philanthropist Eric T. Nord Passes Away

Eric T. Nord, co-founder of Nordson Corporation (Nasdaq: NDSN) passed away on June 19, 2008. He was 90.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080620/CLF051 )

Born in 1917, the son of Walter and Virginia Nord, Mr. Nord started his career as an engineer at the U.S. Automatic Corporation in 1939. In 1954, together with his brother Evan and father Walter, Eric Nord organized Nordson Corporation as a subsidiary of U.S. Automatic Corporation. Eric Nord served as President of Nordson from 1954 to 1974. During this time, Nordson grew from a small, local business with less than $1 million in annual sales to a publicly traded, multinational corporation with sales of $121 million and operations in eight countries. In 1974, Mr. Nord was elected Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. He retired from the position of CEO in 1983, continuing as Chairman of the Board of Directors until October 31, 1997, and remaining as Chairman Emeritus until his death. Today, Nordson has sales of over $1 billion with direct operations in 33 countries.

Eric Nord's business acumen was paralleled by a lifetime of personal philanthropy involving multiple non-profit organizations and causes. Mr. Nord, with his family, was also catalytic in creating four remarkable philanthropic resources: the Nord Family Foundation, Nordson Corporation and its Foundation, the Eric and Jane Nord Foundation, and the Community Foundation of Greater Lorain County. Eric's philanthropic vision was behind more than $100 million of support for charitable and educational causes, particularly in northern Ohio.

"Eric Nord was an extraordinarily talented business leader as well as a generous and community-minded individual," said Edward P. Campbell, chairman and chief executive officer. "His legacy lives through the continuing success of Nordson Corporation. The impact of his vision, leadership and philanthropy will continue to be felt for many generations to come."

Throughout his lifetime, Mr. Nord was an active member of the community. At the time of his death, he served as a member of the Nord Family Foundation and as an honorary trustee of Oberlin College. Past board and community service affiliations include the Oberlin Board of Education, the Oberlin City Council, Firelands Association for the Visual Arts, Lorain County Joint Vocational School, Lorain County United Way, Allen Memorial Hospital, the Greater Cleveland Growth Association (now the Greater Cleveland Partnership) and the Community Foundation of Greater Lorain County.

Mr. Nord attended Amherst High School (Class of 1935) and earned a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from Case Institute of Technology, now Case Western Reserve University. In 1989, Oberlin College honored his support and encouragement by awarding him an honorary Doctor of Science Degree. Mr. Nord was also the recipient of the Case Alumni Association Gold Medal Award in recognition of outstanding technical innovation, successful business management and dedicated public service. His creativity was reflected in the award of 25 U.S. patents.

Mr. Nord is survived by his wife Jane, and his children Virginia Barbato (Randall) of New York City, Emily McClintock (T.K.) and Carlotte Berk (Sam) of Cambridge, Massachusetts, Richard Nord (Kathleen) of Vermilion, Ohio, and twelve grandchildren. He was predeceased by his son Eric.

Nordson Corporation (Nasdaq: NDSN) is one of the world's leading producers of precision dispensing equipment that applies adhesives, sealants and coatings to a broad range of consumer and industrial products during manufacturing operations. The company also manufactures equipment used in the testing and inspection of electronic components as well as technology-based systems for curing and surface treatment processes. Headquartered in Westlake, Ohio, Nordson has more than 4,100 employees worldwide, and direct operations and sales support offices in 33 countries.

Contact: James R. Jaye, Director, Corporate Communications

Phone: (440) 414-5639