Nordstrom exec dies at 58

Blake Nordstrom, a key member of the executive leadership team at Nordstrom, passed away unexpectedly in Seattle Jan. 2 at 58. He was co-president of the department store chain, known for its Exclusive Brands of clothing, along with his two brothers, Pete and Erik Nordstrom.

In early December, Nordstrom disclosed he had been diagnosed with a treatable form of lymphoma and was undergoing treatment.

“In retail, we have been blessed with thoughtful visionaries. They impact all of those who are touched by the industry — whether through employment, through giving back to communities they serve or through a personal and heartfelt belief that leadership is not a right, but an opportunity to make a positive and lasting impact for current and future generations of those that follow,” said Matthew Shay, president and CEO of the National Retail Federation, in a statement. “Blake Nordstrom embodied that commitment. He was a servant leader and a friend to all who knew him. He will be greatly missed.”

The great-grandfather of the Nordstrom brothers, a Swedish immigrant John Nordstrom, founded the company in 1901 in Seattle.