Norman Hobday

Every time I have a Lemon Drop I will drink it up in memory and in cheers to "HENRY AFRICA"

Between 1994-98 Norman had a bunch of Kappa's (incl me) from Berkeley bartending and waitressing.

So many stories and good times. My sorority sisters may remember "pricky boy pricky" the cat; the birthday party we had for Kris, Kristin, etc;.... the time I hurt myself on his motorcycle, riding backwards carrying a plant. I could go on and on.

Norman broke all the rules and lived life to the fullest. He created many fond memories and will be dearly missed.

I was a cocktail wattress at Henry Afirca in the 70's What fun we had It was an eye opening experience for a young girl from georgia burned my ankle on the back of the Harley - It was wild but tons of living the life rest in peace Norman Mary Baldwin aka Margaret

I knew Norman as "Jimmy" when we were good buddies in grade school at the old Gainesville NY school ( three classes to a room and a pot bellied stove in the central hall). We would match pennies and practice rolling dice in the boy's room (in 5th & 6th grade !). Ten years later we went out one night in his truck, that he used to transport cattle, looking for girls. (It's aroma didn't help us achieve our goals!) We were close, the way 10 & 11 year olds are today, but we were going through a...

I live in the area and when out and abt I'd drag friends in with me or just go alone and give Norman a hug and sit and talk to him- I could see over the years he wasn't doing so well and that saddened me.
That bar will never be the same...he will be missed :(

You can no longer run a saloon like Norman ran his. In many ways that's good, in many ways bad. One thing's for sure - saloons ain't what they used to be. And they used to be good. Rest in Peace, Norman. Oliver Colt

I worked as a cocktail waitress for Norman at Henry Africa's and a waitress for him at Dartmouth Social Club. Seeing this picture of him sure brings back memories of a wonderful place in time!! He was quite a colorful figure! Pam Morgan

Having just read Norman's obituary, I am flooded with wonderful memories. He had so many interesting qualities but, I think his inventiveness, may have been the most prominent one.I knew him in the 70's when I lived in S.F.and remember riding up and down the hills on the back of his Harley. What happy times. He will be missed.
Anna Dunbar Marks Augusta, GA

Saddened to hear about Norman. I don't think I'd seen "Henry Africa" since the mid 1970s when he was a customer of the bank for which I worked at the time.

Norman was always cordial, and his bar on Van Ness was a certainly among the best bars in S.F.
Henry Africa's screwdrivers were made with freshly-squeezed orange juice, too.

I've walked by his latest bar/restaurant many times over the years and thought about stopping in to say "Hello" but never did.
Now,...