February 6, 2012

Electrician and teacher Thorstensen dies at 81

Electrician and teacher Herman “Thorny” Thorstensen died Jan. 2. He was 81 years old.

Thorstensen

Thorstensen's daughter, Christine Porter, said her father was always a teacher.

“Dad would play with us in the water, tossing us in the air and letting us sink under the water as he caught us,” she said. “We learned not to fear the water or the unexpected. We also learned that he would always be there for us, and he was.”

Thorstensen completed his electrical apprenticeship in 1960 with Local 46 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. He worked in the field and taught for IBEW from 1962 until 1974.

In 1972, he opened Thorstensen Electric Corp. Five years later, he began teaching for the Washington State Electrical Contractors Association and the Washington Electrical Education Foundation. The foundation in 1985 combined its program with the Construction Industry Training Council of Washington, where Thorstensen continued to teach until he retired in 2003.

During his 25-year teaching career with WEEF and CITC, he developed curriculum outlines for all four years of electrical training, the electrical motors and transformers lab, all the lab activities for level three and four students, and the first state-approved continuing education courses in Washington.

“Early on in CITC's history, Thorny worked on weekends to upgrade the electrical lab to ensure that his students had the latest technology and exceptional hands-on training as part of their apprenticeship,” said Halene Sigmund, CITC president.

CITC executive vice president Dave Perrin said, “Thorny showed up early every day to mentor and tutor his students who needed help. His students often came in early to spend time with him. Many of them have followed his lead in their careers and have come back to CITC as instructors.”

Two that followed his lead were his daughter Christine and her husband, Tim Porter. Both taught at CITC for more than 20 years, and Christine continues to teach there.

Thorstensen is survived by his wife of 60 years, Maureen; daughters Christine, Tari Simmons (Peter), Mary Paschall (Steve) and Delores Kinsman (Dave); granddaughters Kara Kopkas (Tyler), Hillary Kinsman, and Kristin, Kimberly and Kathryn Simmons; and grandson Steven Kinsman.

In April CITC will dedicate its electrical lab to Thorstensen.