Norma J. Lang

1931 - 2015

BORN

1931

DIED

2015

About

Bowling Green State University Ohio State University

Norma Lang Obituary

July 25, 1931 March 6, 2015

Professor Emerita Norma J. Lang died of heart failure on March 6, at Sutter Memorial Hospital in Sacramento. Her niece and nephew were with her.

Norma was born in Memphis, TN to Dave and Mary Lang and after several family moves, she graduated from high school in Toledo, Ohio. In 1948 she entered Bowling Green University. She completed her B.S. and M.A. degrees at Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, in 1952 and 1958, respectively. She studied with Dr. Richard C. Starr at Indiana University, Bloomington and received her Ph.D. in botany in 1962. Her research focused on the study of blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) using a then-new technology in biology, transmission electron microscopy.

Her post-doctoral work was at the University of Texas, Austin with Dr. Harold C. Bold, as a National Institutes of Health Postdoctoral Fellow. She accepted a position as Assistant Professor of Botany at the University of California at Davis in 1963 and was promoted through the faculty ranks. Her early research was funded by the National Science Foundation. In 1968, Dr. Lang was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship for sabbatical studies at the University of London. Upon her return to campus, she resumed her research on blue green-algae and her teaching in phycology and general botany.

In 1969, Norma was awarded the Darbaker Prize by the Botanical Society of America for the best paper on microscopic algae published worldwide in the two previous years. In 1977 she described a new cyanobacterium species which she named Starria zimbabweensis Lang, in recognition of its origin from Zimbabwe and to honor her mentor, Prof. Starr. She served as the President of the Phycological Society of America in 1975 following many active years with the organization.

During her lifetime she adored dogs and trained and showed several breeds in dog obedience competitions, winning several awards. Her last canine companion was her beloved, Chris, a Papillon.

Norma retired from UCD in 1991 but remained active in the community. She had numerous students through the adult literacy program of the Woodland Public Library for which she was recognized for her volunteer service by the California State Assembly in 2011.

Norma is survived by nieces, Lana Lang Payne and Laura Lang Ellis, and nephew, William A. Lang, their children and grandchildren, who along with her many lifetime friends in Davis and the surrounding area, remember her unique perspectives on life and living.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Daily Democrat on Mar. 12, 2015.

Memories and Condolences
for Norma Lang

9 Entries

Michael Gonella

May 6, 2020

Dr. Lang was my undergrad advisor at Davis from 1982-1985. I was a botany major, but soon fell in love with phycology, much because of Dr. Lang's enthusiasm for the subject. Although she was sometimes stern and ran a rigorous lab, she was kind, supportive and best of all sincerely passionate about algae. Her passion ignited my own and I have now spent 4 decades of research on plants and algae. One doesn't meet someone too often in life, with such integrity and zeal for their life's work, but Dr. Lang was that person for me. In that sense she has been more than just an academic mentor, but a inspiration for following my dreams in plant/algae research. My fondest memories of her were on our field trips to Bodega Bay, mounting seaweeds late into the night after a vigorous day of collecting with stimulating discussions about each one. Dr. Lang never lost her excitement over algae, nor for her students, and I too hope to hold onto my own interest and intrigue in the world of photosynthetic organisms, for the rest of my life. Thank you Dr. Lang, for following your own heart into the world of phycology - and being an example for me to do the same.

Alan Koller

April 11, 2015

I was a teaching assistant for Dr. Lang for several semesters in her phycology class back in the mid-80's. She loved her algae - and she was passionate in teaching. She especially loved taking her classes to Bodega Marine Laboratory. I clearly recall our wading knee-deep in the Pacific Ocean on the hunt for Postelsia. I admired and respected Dr. Lang and will miss her.

April 7, 2015

As a timid undergrad, I vividly recall knocking on Dr. Lang's office door to ask her if I could conduct my honor's research project under her direction. She had a somewhat fierce reputation, so much to my surprise, she was pleased that I asked, and it was she who led me to my successful career in algal biology. Thank you, Norma. I'll never forget you. Carole Lembi Ross

d J

April 5, 2015

My sincere Apologies to the family, may you have peace in your hearts as you endure your lost .

Sheldon K

March 26, 2015

My deepest sympathy to you all on Dr. Lang's passing.

She was my undergrad advisor and she was just WONDERFUL! She was generous with her time and provided excellent advice that was so accurate concerning all of my undergrad courses and later applications to grad schools.

Sheldon K.
UCD
Class of 1972

Maureen Stanton

March 25, 2015

I want to send gratitude and acknowledgement to Norma for being such an important early mentor to me, and a stalwart supporter of UC Davis faculty women through the Women's Research Support Group that was so active during the 1980's and 1990's.

DDTC Members

March 19, 2015

The present day members of the Davis Dog Training Club would like to express their condolences to Norma's family on her passing. She was a special person.

M. Arriaga

March 15, 2015

I don't know you, but you sure are/were an amazing person. All your accomplishments in life are amazing. Thank you and may you rest in peace.

Linda Graham

March 12, 2015

Norma was my main role model in the field of algal biology. She was always such a warm, generous and encouraging person. Her work with adult literacy rounded out a lifetime of important contributions to science and humanity.

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