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Obituary

Norvin Powell

Norvin Powell, a lifelong resident of the Bay Area, died April 8 after more than a year of declining health.

Born in San Francisco July 22, 1952, he served in the U.S. Army, then studied engineering at San Jose State University. He studied bodywork at Body Therapy Center in Palo Alto and the Hendrickson Institute in Kensington. He attended International School of Professional Bodywork in San Diego, where he studied structural integration with one of the school's founders, Ed Maupin.

After retiring from a career as an engineer for ATT, he worked as a massage therapist at Body Therapy Center in 1998, and became an instructor at the BTC school.

Powell worked at Custom Fitness in Mountain View for eight years and offered bodywork privately through his own business, Within Reach Massage, for many years.

His warm sense of humor and spirituality were held dear by his colleagues, clients and friends, his family said. He enjoyed jazz and improving his golf swing, and built his life around his beloved daughter, Serena.

Norvin is survived by his daughter Serena Powell; his partner Becky Wecks; Serena's mother Kristin Powell; his father Ethan Powell; and his sister Debra Powell. He will be greatly missed.

A memorial will take place on Saturday, May 26, at 2 p.m. at Unity Palo Alto, 3391 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto. Call (650) 494-7222.

Memorial donations would be welcomed toward Serena's tuition. Send to Saint Francis High School with a note "for Serena Powell tuition" and mail to St. Francis High School, 1885 Miramonte Avenue, Mountain View, California 94040.