Torben Hansen-Nord

Torben Hansen Nord was born in Danmark in 1941 to Tove and Erik Hansen Nord. The eldest of four sons, he grew up working on his family’s farm, where he developed a deep and lasting love for animals and the land.

From an early age, Torben had an adventurous spirit and a soft heart. At 21, he joined the Danish military and he remained proud of both his service and his country. Torben was a restless soul, eager to explore, Danmark was home, but he sensed that a larger life awaited him somewhere beyond it.

Torben’s grandmother Edith sat him down and told him plainly, “This country is not for you. You need to go to America.” She financed his journey across the Atlantic, sending him to a country he imagined as equal parts Cowboys, Capitalism and Cadillacs, and everything else exciting that he could dream up.

He arrived in America in 1964. The vastness of the country—its open land, towering mountains, and endless opportunity—filled him with hope and ambition. He sensed this was a place where he could accomplish anything, and he set about proving it in his own completely unorthodox way.

Torben had many odd jobs, one of his early hustles was operating a milk route through a particularly tough neighborhood. The man who sold him the route warned, “They’re going to eat you alive. Good luck.” But the neighborhood embraced Torben. His foreign accent, straightforward manner, and respectful way of treating people won them over. It was one of many times throughout his life when Torben entered unfamiliar territory with nerve, humor, and an instinctive ability to connect with people from every walk of life.

While living out of his car in San Francisco, Torben saw Barbara walking past. She was a beautiful woman from Jamaica, and she stopped him in his tracks. He asked her on a date, she agreed and he told her to wait while he changed clothes. She watched him climb into his car and come out in a blazer and ascot, Barbara later recalled he looked ready to meet the Queen.

While living in San Francisco, Torben saw Barbara walking by, and her beauty stopped him in his tracks. He asked her on a date. She agreed, and he told her to wait while he changed clothes. Barbara watched him climb into his car and emerge wearing a blazer and an ascot. She later recalled, “Suddenly, I realized he was living in that car—but he hopped out looking ready to meet the Queen.”Torben and Barbara married soon afterward and welcomed their daughter, Tove. They settled in Sacramento, where Torben began what would become a lifelong career in real estate and land sales.

Land and Torben always went hand in hand. He had an extraordinary talent for finding hidden gems, dusting them off, and recognizing possibilities that others had overlooked. Sometimes he sold them—although, whenever possible, he preferred to keep them.

In the early-1970s, Torben met another beauty, Sherri. He fell deeply in love with her, beginning a partnership that would last for the rest of their lives. Torben and Sherri eventually married in Gibraltar, together they traveled the world and created opportunities for themselves wherever they went. They might be broke one season and flush the next, but through every high and low, Torben and Sherri forged an unbreakable bond. Through the 70s, ’80s, and ’90s, they split their time between Spain and the United States. They raised their grandson Harvey and created a strong family unit.

In the late 1990s, Torben and Sherri settled in Stonyford, where they built the family homestead ‘Seldom Seen’. It brought Torben back to the things that had mattered to him since childhood: open country, animals, land of his own and a place for his family.

Torben kept a small circle of close friends. He used to say that if you had more friends than you could count on one hand, you simply had too many. Those few friends were family to him. He admired and respected them would do absolutely anything for them, and they would do the same for him.

Those close to Torben all experienced his direct manner. He did not mince words or spend much time trying to spare anyone’s feelings. Once you got used to it, however, you came to value his honesty and understood that he was always looking out for your best interests. He was the kind of person you wanted in your corner. Beneath his blunt manner was a keen mind and a generous heart.

Torben lived boldly and unconventionally. From a Danish family farm to the American West, to Spain, and finally Seldom Seen, he built a life entirely his own. The stories he leaves behind will continue to be told—with laughter, affection, and more than a little amazement—for generations to come

Torben is survived by his daughter, Tove Hansen-Nord, and his grandchildren, Beck Fortier, Kaj Fortier, Harvey Bolar, and David Rossi. He leaves behind a loving circle of family and friends.