Norman Meyers

There was a piercing clarity to Norman Meyers' eye that, as a young man, signalled he was pondering a
mathematical principle or contemplating the solution to some problem. He could think purposefully for hours at a time and over weeks and months, even longer, the fundamental insight might not come until an unexpected moment-shaving in the morning, watching the autumn leaves fall or walking across campus-the understanding took shape. It was richly rewarding work for Norman, so much so that this vigorous man once confided that such moments could move him to tears. We are sad to announce that Norman George Meyers, age 92, University of Minnesota emeritus professor of Mathematics, exceptional squash player and athlete, a man of intellectual purpose and the physical intensity to match, passed away on the evening of April 30 after a long battle with Parkinson's Disease. He is preceded in death by his beloved wife, Harriet (née Schweller); and beloved brother, Harold. Norman is survived by his four children, Charles (Elisabeth), Reuven (Nujaree), Benjamin, and Rachel; four grandchildren, Matthew, Jessica, Aimee, and Caitlyn; five great-grandchildren; and sister-in-law, Joan Meyers. Norman was born June 29, 1930, in Buffalo,
New York, the first of two children to Morris and Ida Ruth, Jewish immigrants from Central and Eastern Europe. An exceptional student from an early age, he attended the University of Buffalo on scholarship, earning a degree in Mathematics in 1952. He then went to Indiana University where he completed his Ph.D under his thesis advisor, David Gilbarg. He spent the following summer at Stanford University expanding his doctoral work, and then took a position in the Department of Mathematics at the University of Minnesota. His field was partial differential equations, and with the exception of just two academic
years, 1968-69 at Hebrew University in Jerusalem, and 1972-73 at Indiana University in Bloomington, he remained at the University of Minnesota, only retiring at the age of 80. Even after retiring, Norman's love of the discipline never waned and he continued to read broadly and deeply in mathematics. In 2005, while still working, Norman and Harriet sold their beautiful family home in the Kenwood neighborhood of Minneapolis,
and moved to a condominium in St Louis Park, where Norman cared for Harriet as her renal disease
progressed. In later years, he played more tennis than squash, and rediscovered his love of long walks, going for groceries and exercising in Wolfe Park. Ultimately, a failing hip ended his squash playing, but he never lost interest in following racket sports. He also enjoyed finding a coffee shop and reading. Ever the scholar, he followed through on his plan to study physics in retirement. Norman stayed in his condominium near Wolf Park after Harriet's death in 2015. As his neurological illness progressed, he found ways to push himself physically, like using walking sticks for balance. Norman could be solitary, and his preference was to have a few close friends and colleagues. It came as a happy surprise to him that the number of caregivers who worked first with Harriet and then with Norman truly enjoyed his company.
The Meyers family wish to thank some remarkable women for their compassionate care of Norman in his later years: Laurie Hansen, Melanie Hodroff, Abbie Kane, Ronda Kerr, Sally Lund, Kasy Meyers, Elisabeth Miller, and Victoria Norvell. Norman's final move came in June 2022, when he arrived at The Pillars of Prospect Park assisted living facility, where he again found wonderful care providers, and son, Charlie and Elisabeth Miller made this final transition peaceful and loving. The funeral service will be held 11:00 am FRIDAY May 5th at MINNEAPOLIS JEWISH CEMETERY CHAPEL, 7032 Penn Ave. S., Richfield, also available on Zoom at http://www.tinyurl.com/NormanMeyers. A gathering of family & friends will follow from 1:30 pm-4:30 pm,
at The Pillars of Prospect Park, 22 Malcolm Ave SE, Mpls, MN 55414. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Park Nicollet Struthers Parkinson's Center.