Christopher H. Norman

NORMAN, Christopher H., a resident of Midlothian, Va., died November 20, 2008, after an extended illness. He was 51 years old. Mr. Norman was born in Caracas, Venezuela. He received a B.S. degree from The American University, Washington, D.C., and continued his studies at The American Graduate School of International Management, "Thunderbird," where he graduated in 1983 with a Master's of International Management degree. He is also an alumnus of the collegiate "Semester at Sea" program. Mr. Norman was Vice President of Sales Development for Great Northern Corporation. He began his career in New York City with Westvaco, where he held a number of positions, and later held positions of increasing responsibility with Weyerhaeuser and Smurfit-Stone. Following his diagnosis with ALS over a year ago, Mr. Norman devoted his attention to writing. He is the author of the book "The Grateful Road, What I Have Learned" and multimedia presentations "The Bridge" and "What I Have Learned" on his website, www.whatihavelearned.us. In 2008 he received the Muscular Dystrophy Association Person of the Year Award for Central Virginia. Mr. Norman is survived by his wife, Renee Hevenor Norman; their two children, Charles and Clementine Norman; father, William Gene Norman of Sun City, Calif.; mother, Nancy Norman of Boynton Beach, Fla.; and sister, Cathy Norman of Ojai, Calif. Visitation will be from 2 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, November 23, 2008 at Bliley's Funeral Home, 3801 Augusta Ave., Richmond, Va. 23230. A memorial service will be held Monday, November 24, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Edward's Catholic Church, 2700 Dolfield Dr., Richmond, Va. 23235. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Mr. Norman may be made to these wonderful organizations: The ALS Association, 7507 Standish Pl., Rockville, Md. 20855, or Bon Secours Hospice, 5875 Bremo Rd., Suite 710, Richmond, Va. 23226.
This obituary was originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.