Lewena Noorda

Lewena "Tye" Noorda, a Utah philanthropist and arts lover, died April 2014 at the age of 90. A gifted musician, writer, director, poet and songwriter, Noorda was instrumental in helping fund a number of educational, religious and artistic organizations. After Ray Noorda died, Lewen Noorda and her four sons donated $30 million to the Ray and Tye Noorda Oral Health Sciences Building at the University of Utah. They were also active in a number of foundations including Angel Partners, Worth of a Soul and the Ray and Tye Noorda Foundations, which will continue to operate. She attended the University of Utah, where she studied speech and drama. While working as a model in New York City, she received the stage name "Tye" from Nat King Cole's manager. After moving to Salt Lake City, she met Ray Noorda. The couple were married on Aug. 4, 1950. The marriage was solemnized in the Salt Lake Temple. Ray Noorda was CEO of Novell from 1983 to 1995. He passed away in October of 2006. Noorda was preceded in death by her daughter, Val Marie. She is survived by four sons, 13 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.