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Norman Coliver Obituary
He was high school class valedictorian, and graduated in 1938 from the University of Virginia Phi Beta Kappa, with honors in Philosophy, for writing on James Joyce's Ulysses.
He enlisted in the army in 1941 and, after completing officer training, served as an intelligence officer under General MacArthur with whom he walked to shore at Lleyte Gulf. In October 1945, Major Coliver witnessed the signing of the Japanese surrender documents, which he had been in charge of producing, on board the USS Missouri.
He studied pre-med courses at Harvard and was accepted into Medical School there in 1947, but instead moved to SF to marry Edith Simon. He graduated from Stanford Law School in December 1950 with the Irving Hellman Prize for legal writing. In 1951, the young couple spent six months in Rome, where Norman served as part of a Stanford Research Mission to the Italian government.
Upon his return, he joined the firm of Dinkelspiel & Dinkelspiel, with which he was affiliated for the remainder of his career.
Amongst his many civic involvements, he chaired or sat on the boards of the American Red Cross of SF, Hunter's Point Boys Club, Probate Committee of the Bar Association of SF, SF Jewish Community Center, SF Jewish Welfare Federation, Congregation Emanu-El, and Judah Magnes Museum. His abiding interests were life-long education, civil rights, and the history of the Jews of the West.
He is survived by his daughters, Susie Coliver (Robert Herman) of San Francisco and Sandra Coliver (Robert Sullivan) of New York, and his devoted caregivers of the past several years, Temalesi Raturoba, Caroline Timothy, and Joe Niumataiwalu.
Donations may be made in his memory to the Western Jewish History Center at give.berkeley.edu/magnes, Lehrhaus Judaica, or charity of your choice. The family will receive visitors on June 5 and 6. For info email [email protected].
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Norman Coliver
Lori Rosolowsky
June 25, 2025
Major Coliver. "Normy". Two names I never knew for my late Uncle Norman, who produced two extraordinary (truly off the charts) women Susie and Sandy, with amazing wife Edith. Thank you for these legendary photos and the Mount Rushmore tributes to other great men in our female-dominated family.
Temalesi Raturoba
June 1, 2024
Norman , you´re loved & missed . I was blessed to be part of your Journey towards the end . You slipped away peacefully today , June 1st. 2016
Sandy
June 19, 2022
Dad with his brother Jonas, then a Lieutenant Commander in the Navy, in 1945.
Sandy
June 19, 2022
Dad, 1945, when he was a Major in the Pacific Theater, serving under General MacArthur
Sandy
June 19, 2022
Dad out for a stroll, December 2010.
Sandy
June 19, 2022
With Dad, acting silly on my birthday, April 13, 2008
Sandy
June 19, 2022
Susie and I took Dad to Asilomar, on the Monterey Peninsula, for his 90th birthday, June 19, 2008.
Sandy
June 19, 2022
Dad in front of the Concordia Club, May 12, 2010. Looking dapper indeed at (almost) 92!
Susie and Sandy Coliver
June 19, 2022
Dad would have been 104 years old today. We think of him often. We are so profoundly grateful for all that we learned from him, for all the experiences to which he exposed us, and for the wonderful people who came into our lives because of him. These include his amazing caregivers: Tema, Joe and Caroline.
Today, Father´s Day, we think especially about the other pater familias whom we´ve lost in the past 18 months:
Hal Stein passed on May 31st this year, at the age of 90, one day before the sixth year anniversary of our own dad´s passing. https://tinyurl.com/mv7uwtyn
Peter Maier passed on December 21st last year, at the age of 93, six days before Aunt Eve´s 90th birthday; https://tinyurl.com/4zbhvdbr
And dear uncle Ernie, who would have been 93 this June 24th, passed on January 13th, 2020.
https://tinyurl.com/2p9bhpkv
In this pantheon also belongs Uncle Harold, who passed away nearly 9 years ago, on August 6, 2013 at the age of 85: https://tinyurl.com/m5nt2bdv
What a remarkable group of fathers - our own Mount Rushmore. You will always inspire us, and your memories bring such blessings.
With love to all of you on this special day,
Susie and Sandy
Tema R
June 19, 2021
Happy birthday Norman & also happy Father’s Day . You’re deeply missed& we treasure all the 6 years of Birthdays & Fathers Day ... You’re always looking forward to your dessert... I can see the glow in your face .
Joe/ Tema N.
June 19, 2021
Thinking of You on this Father’s Day wknd
We spent 6 Father’s Day with you. You’re deeply missed .
Sandy Coliver
June 18, 2021
Here's a photo of Dad royally enjoying a slice of one of his favorite desserts - pecan pie - on his 95th birthday in 2013.
Sandy Coliver
June 18, 2021
What a party!
Sandy Coliver
June 18, 2021
Here's a picture of the birthday table, with Elizabeth on the left of Dad and Caroline on the right.
Sandy Coliver
June 18, 2021
Here's a photo of Dad on his 95th reading the birthday card from Caroline, Tema and Joe.
Sandy Coliver
June 18, 2021
Dad would have been 103 tomorrow. I'm thinking about all of the birthdays and other occasions we celebrated with him over the years. His 95th birthday was memorable because he was in such good form. Here are a few photos of the party that day with some of his, and Susie's and my, dearest friends: Temalesi Tuilau, Caroline Whippy, Joe Niumataiwalu, cousin Lynne Simon, and Elizabeth Ury. We all laughed a lot. Dad loved the birthday cards he got, including a huge one from Tema, Caroline and Joe. Thanks to you, Lynne and Liz for joining us that day. So glad that we were all together.
Jeremy W Potash
September 1, 2020
Thinking of Norman on the 75th anniversary of the Japanese surrender ceremony aboard the USS Missouri. And of our time on the Magnes Museum board. May his memory be blessed.
Joe/ Tema Niumataiwalu
June 4, 2020
We spent the last happy peaceful week with Norman.His memories are still fresh in our hearts.His name comes up now and then. We also often watch videos, pictures of him. The thought of him brings Joy to our hearts.We will always treasure our Journey together. Youre deeply missed .
Susie Coliver
June 2, 2020
At Asilomar for the 90th Birthday with Sandy and Susie
Sandy Coliver
June 2, 2020
Dad and Sandy at Stern Grove for Dad's 92nd birthday and Father's Day on June 20, 2010.
Sandy Coliver
June 2, 2020
Temalesi/ Joe Niumataiwalu
October 23, 2019
Norman you're always in our hearts. Thinking of you today and always.
Sandy Coliver
June 1, 2019
So many memories of Dad on this 3rd anniversary of his passing. He taught Susie and me how to ride our bikes in the big parking lot that was also the parade ground in the Presidio. No training wheels for us - just straight from tricycle to bike. We suffered some falls, but were very proud of ourselves. He also taught us to pump our arms while running. He demonstrated the technique in our cousins' yard so vigorously that their dog (Scotty?) nipped him in the heel. He used to read poetry to us. I especially remember Robert Louis Stevenson (including the Land of Counterpane); Blessings on thee little man, barefoot boy with cheek of tan (John Greenleaf Whittier); O Captain! My Captain! (Whitman), and Ogden Nash limericks, such as "A wonderful bird is the pelican ..." He was a zealous editor: he returned my letters (in the days when we still wrote letters) covered with red-inked corrections. I'm sure that my grammar is better for it! He taught us to apologize - that was an important lesson. And so many more memories as we grew older, right through his last years, when his amazing caregivers - Caroline, Tema and Joe -- filled his home with energy, life and love. We were all blessed to have those years to spend with him. Susie and I were moved by all the letters and emails we received from family, friends, and others whose lives had been touched by him. So much to reflect on and be grateful for ....
Dad already with silver hair, Mom, Susie & Sandy in 1957
Sandy Coliver
June 1, 2019
Dad and little Frances, Caroline's granddaughter, who loved Dad and kept asking "where's Normy"?
Sandy Coliver
June 1, 2017
Dad's 96th birthday with (going clockwise) Sandy, Lisa, Team, Joe, Bob, Susie, Caroline and little Frances
Sandy Coliver
June 1, 2017
Sandy Coliver
June 1, 2017
Thinking about Dad today, the first anniversary of his passing, and thinking about how blessed we all were that Caroline, Tema and Joe, came into our lives and provided Dad with such amazing care and love in his last years.
Jean Grob
June 15, 2016
No one was more memorable than Norman.
Dad standing outside his home 2011
Sandra Coliver
June 10, 2016
Dad with Caroline's granddaughter Frances 2013
Sandra Coliver
June 10, 2016
Dad voting in 2012
Sandra Coliver
June 10, 2016
Benton Cohen
June 6, 2016
Uncle Norman very generously took me into his home for several weeks in the summer of 1972 when I moved to SF and needed time to get settled. His hospitality and generosity were much appreciated.
Deborah Hoffman
June 4, 2016
Remembering Norman so fondly from my childhood and later. Deepest sympathies to cousins Susie and Sandy, and blessings with Norman's memory.
George Breslauer
June 4, 2016
My condolences to the family on this loss. How blessed that the community got to embrace him so broadly and for so many years.
---George Breslauer, Director, The Magnes Collection of Jewish Art and Life
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