College of Nursing supporter McIntosh remembered

Eleanor and J. Paul McIntosh

J. Paul McIntosh, a Norfolk entrepreneur and supporter of the College of Nursing Northern Division in Norfolk, died Thursday at the age of 92.

The J. Paul and Eleanor McIntosh building which houses the College of Nursing in Norfolk is named for McIntosh and his wife, who provided major funding to place the division on the campus of Northeast Community College in Norfolk.

The McIntosh’s pledge to the capital campaign for the college of nursing was well over $1 million, although the couple requested that the exact amount of the pledge remain confidential.

“Eleanor (who could not speak English when she started school) always wanted to be a nurse,” J. Paul McIntosh said at the College of Nursing ribbon cutting ceremony in 2010. “And then she wanted her daughters and granddaughters to be nurses. Now, she is working on her great granddaughters to be nurses. None of them did or have, so we are donating this money to help nursing students.”

A story on McIntosh and his many other philanthropic efforts can be read in the Norfolk Daily News.

“Mr. McIntosh was a friend to all, generous and dedicated to making the world a better place,” said Juliann Sebastian, Ph.D., dean of the UNMC College of Nursing. “He regularly spoke of his commitment to doing all he could to be of service to others.

“We are so honored that the UNMC College of Nursing Northern Division is housed in the building that carries his name and that of his beloved wife, Eleanor. The two of them saw the vision for expanding nursing education in northeast Nebraska and promoting the strong partnership we enjoy with Northeast Community College. His vision, warmth, sense of humor, and generous spirit will be deeply missed,” she said.

Liane Connelly Ph.D., assistant dean of the College of Nursing Northern Division, said the faculty, staff and students in the Northern Division were saddened to hear of McIntosh’s passing.

“We will remember his smile and his overflowing heart of service to others in need in all aspects of life,” she said. “We are indebted to his heart of service, which enabled us to likewise serve our larger community through partnerships with Northeast Community College and Faith Regional Health Services for the establishment of the J. Paul and Eleanor McIntosh College of Nursing.”

Funeral services have been set for Tuesday with Brockhaus-Howser-Fillmer Funeral Home in Norfolk. For more information, click here>.

The McIntosh file

Courtesy of Northeast Community College

J. Paul McIntosh was well-known for his philanthropic efforts to benefit the welfare of others and promoting benevolence for the betterment of the community. The respected Norfolk businessman and developer also used his time and treasure to benefit generations of students at Northeast Community College.

After serving on the Norfolk Public Schools board of education from 1970-1979, McIntosh served on the Northeast board of governors from 1987-2006; where he was board chairman in 1993 and 2000. He also served as chairman of the Nebraska Community College Association (NCCA) board of directors in 2001. He received the NCAA Governor's Award for Exemplary Service in 2002 and Northeast's Distinguished Service Award in 2006.

McIntosh was a member of the Northeast Community College Foundation board of directors at the time of his death.

Born at home at Boggs Table, between Sargent and Broken Bow, Neb., McIntosh graduated from Pilger High School. He earned a bachelor's degree in natural science and vocational education/agriculture from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and a master's degree in natural sciences from Oklahoma State University.

A former high school instructor, he also worked as an agricultural consultant in six countries and as a foreign business owner since 1967.

McIntosh taught social studies at Norfolk Junior High School from 1955-1956, during which he was awarded a National Science Foundation (NSF) Scholarship to attend the first Graduate NSF Program at Oklahoma A&M, now Oklahoma State University, at Stillwater. He returned to Norfolk in 1957 and became the guidance director of the Norfolk Public School System, taught an advanced science class at Norfolk High School and Norfolk Junior College, while continuing his fertilizer business, as well as other business enterprises. He left the teaching profession in 1963.

In his later years, McIntosh shared his wisdom of the importance of education with Northeast students during the college's annual Scholarship Luncheon.

He repeatedly said that 'education is the great equalizer.'

To read more about McIntosh, click here.

College of Nursing supporter McIntosh remembered

The McIntosh file

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