Robert Hudson Norman

1935 - 2021

Robert Hudson Norman

NORMAN, Robert Hudson, 85 died on March 15, 2021. He was born in Montgomery, Alabama on September 29, 1935 to William Raymond and Irma Hudson Norman. He graduated from Sidney Lanier High School and attended Auburn University where he was a member of Sigma Nu Fraternity. He served in the Alabama Air National Guard before starting a career in the insurance business. He was a long-time resident of Pike Road, Alabama where he was a member of Grace Episcopal Church before moving to Birmingham. Robert was in the Glee Club in high school and was an exceptional athlete particularly as a football player and was a long-distance runner for many years. He competed in regular and ultra-marathons including Pike's Peak in Colorado. Later in life, he directed more of his abundant energy to travel, hiking and bicycling.

In addition to being a loving husband and a wonderful father to all of his children, Robert had a passion for the outdoors. He was an accomplished fly fisherman and wild turkey hunter. In his younger years, he liked to fly tailwheel airplanes and was a talented watercolorist. He developed a deep respect for nature and the environment and loved the wilderness where he enjoyed exploring, backpacking and canoeing. As a naturalist, he could identify almost any plant or animal track and had a real skill at spotting wildlife and mimicking their calls.

Robert was deeply nurturing, spiritual, inquisitive, and perceptive of so much that others missed. He loved reading, learning, classical music, movies, New England, Buddhist philosophy, words, art (particularly Andrew Wyeth), poetry (especially Robert Frost), the Blue Ridge Mountains, Saffron Walden England, Norway in the winter, beaver ponds, conversation, and strangers. Robert truly embodied unconditional kindness, humility, curiosity, compassion, tolerance, integrity, introspection, mindfulness, endurance, and forgiveness. He had a natural way of connecting with people of all walks of life and he will be truly missed by his family and friends including his in-home caregiver, Brenda Green.

Robert is survived by his beloved wife Anne Caldwell Norman, his son Robert Hudson Norman, Jr. (Laura) of Albuquerque, New Mexico; daughter Amy Norman Snyder (Alan) of Prescott, Arizona and Anne's daughters Tammie Toothaker Black (Joel) and Amy Toothaker of Birmingham, Alabama. He is also survived by his grandchildren Graham Black, Adam Snyder, and Dr. Rae Ana Snyder and his adored kitty, Callie who adopted him and Anne 17 years ago. Robert was predeceased by his brother Dr. William R. Norman and sister Betty Norman Toothaker.

A private memorial service will be held at a later date at the Episcopal Church of the Resurrection in Little Switzerland, North Carolina.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Collat Jewish Family Services (CARES Program) at 3940 Montclair Road, Suite 205, Birmingham, AL 35213 (jfs@cjfsbham.org) or an environmental non-profit of your choice.