Robert Michael “Mike” Norman, Capt., U.S. Navy (Ret.), 61, passed away peacefully Wednesday, August 7, 2013, surrounded by his family at his home in Williamsburg, Virginia. Born April 14, 1952, in Jacksonville, Florida, he was the son and only child of Lenora Diane Norman and Robert Dean Norman, Capt., U.S. Navy (Ret.), both parents preceded him in death. He is survived by his loving wife, Carolyn Elizabeth Whitehurst-Norman of Williamsburg, VA.; devoted daughter, Alicia Cristin (Norman) Ebersole and her husband, John Royal Ebersole of Chesapeake, VA.; son, Eric Michael Norman and his wife Amanda Lee Norman of Cocoa, FL; grandson, Levi Richard Norman of Cocoa, FL; two step grandchildren, Logan and Calysta Lawhorn of Cocoa, FL; aunt, Anita Louise Bessent of Jacksonville, FL; and “a brother of another mother” and fellow musician, Guy Burlage of Woodstock, Vermont.
In 1969, after graduation from T.C. Williams High School in Alexandria, VA., Mike was appointed to the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. Graduating with a degree in Aerospace Engineering in 1973, he was commissioned into the U.S. Navy as a Fighter Pilot flying the F14, then as Wing Commander of the 84th Fighter Squadron. In 1979, after graduating from the highly selective U.S. Naval Test Pilot School at Patuxent River, Maryland, he flew and tested fixed-winged, rotary-wing, and tilt-rotor aircraft. In 1980, Mike was selected as a NASA Group 9 Astronaut Candidate. In 1985, with a PhD in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Southern California he began working as a Research Scientist with The Boeing Company where he was employed until the time of his death.
When people asked Mike, “What do you do?” he always replied, ìI’m a singer and song writer.” Mike was gifted in many things but his passion was music and he often performed at local establishments in the Williamsburg, VA. area. Mike was brilliant, humble and compassionate and is dearly missed by the many who were fortunate enough to know him.
A memorial will be held in October at Kings Mill, Williamsburg, VA. Burial at Arlington National Cemetery at a future date to be determined.
The family thanks M.D. Anderson Medical Center, Bayada Home Health and Heartland Hospice for their outstanding care.
Date: Saturday, October 26, 2013
Time: 2:00 am - 5:00 pm
Paul T. Glessner posted on 3/27/15
I'm saddened to learn of Mike's passing. Unfortunately I just learned of it now through the SFTE website. I worked at times directly with Mike during the design and development of Boeing's HSCT or High Speed Civil Transport. Being a pilot since I was 16 and as flying qualities engineer at Boeing, Mike and I enjoyed many conversations about pushing the envelope and flying. I remember waiting in line for a sandwich with Mike during a lunch break at a nearby establishment while working at Langley and I was proud to tell Mike in my younger years I went through the high altitude chamber at Edwards AFB and was one of the last students to put the oxygen mask back on learning a lot about my hypoxia signs. Mike calmly told me, "Yes, that's why they/military are limiting that - testing." 😃 It was at that instant that I wondered how many brain cells I - lost. Mike's version of the tether idea to space using carbon nanotubes always fascinated me and his knowledge of space as well. Godspeed, Mike; you are missed. Paul