Dr. Norman Campbell Lyster M.D. Jr.

1933 - 2020

Dr. Norman Campbell Lyster, Jr. MD

Salisbury - Navy veteran, doctor, devoted husband, and great father, Dr. Norman C. Lyster, Jr. MD passed away in the comfort of his home on May 22, 2020 at the age of 86. He was born on November 6, 1933 in Norwich, NY, and graduated from Norwich High School in 1950. He attended and graduated from Hamilton College early to attend Medical School in 1953 at McGill University in Montreal, Canada. Upon graduating in 1957, he commenced his internship at Royal Victoria Hospital. Shortly thereafter, he met the head nurse on his floor, Lorna Alice Wishart. On their first date he asked Ms. Wishart to write on a matchbook her thoughts regarding their future. She wrote; "I am going to marry Norm Lyster".

They were married in March of 1959. He was commissioned into the U.S. Navy and they proceeded to NAS Pensacola for Flight Surgeon training whereupon their first son was born. During his tenure in the Navy they had four more children and were stationed in Newfoundland, Canada, Philadelphia, PA, Guantanamo, Cuba, and Portsmouth, VA. Dr. Lyster was the chief of Ophthalmology at Portsmouth Naval Hospital when he left the Navy in 1968 to start a private medical practice in his home town of Norwich, NY.

Dr. Lyster was a farmer wannabe and do-it-yourselfer. He was committed to ensuring that his family would grow up experiencing country life. With his guidance, the whole family supported a garden that supplied all of their vegetables; there was nothing sweeter than handpicked raw peas. The children learned how to make homemade apple cider and ice cream; how to board horses, ride dirt bikes, and cross-country ski. His favorite dessert was one of Lorna's made from scratch apple pies. He also taught them how to survive some of the coldest upstate New York winters. Each year the family was treated to eating at a fine restaurant, but only after planting 2,000 to 3,000 pine saplings (as part of a state re-forestry project).

Dr. Lyster closed his private practice in 1992 and moved to Salisbury, MD to work with Peninsula Eye Care from which he retired in 1998. During retirement, Norm and Lorna traveled around the world to France, England, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, Mexico, Hawaii, and Fiji, in addition to numerous trips to Lorna's stomping grounds of Montreal and New Brunswick, Canada. Dr. Lyster was an active member of Trinity United Methodist church, chairman of the local Community Emergency Shelter Project, and frequently volunteered to cook meals for the homeless at The Joseph House.

Dr. Lyster is predeceased by his parents, Dr. Norman C. Lyster, Sr. and Marjorie S. Lyster. He is survived by his wife Lorna Wishart Lyster of Salisbury, MD, his two sisters, Ann Hinchcliff of West Chester, PA, and Charlotte Owens (Dave) of Yorktown, VA;his five children and their families: Norman Lyster (Martha) of Virginia Beach, VA, Keely Devlin (Jim) of Idaho Springs, CO, Lori Petri (Eddie) of Bellingham, WA, Charlotte Kuhl (Scott) of Loveland, CO, and Christopher Lyster of Kill Devil Hills, NC; and his five grandchildren: James Devlin, Keely Kuhl, Stuart Lyster, Marley Lyster, and Emily Lyster.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Trinity United Methodist Church, Salisbury, MD. Memorial service and celebration of life will be held at Trinity Methodist Church at a date to be determined