Barbara Ann Norman

She was born in 1938 in Bellmore, Long Island, New York to Josephine and William Clukies. She enjoyed biking, ice skating on the pond near her home, singing, and theater. She played trumpet in High School and was offered a job in a jazz band on graduation. She received a Bachelor of Music in Education from Hofstra University, and a master of Music degree from the University of Michigan.

Barbara taught 4th grade, then Elementary Instrumental and Choral music in the public schools of Riverside and San Diego County for 8 years, beginning in the mid 1960’s. She was married to John Norman in Riverside in 1965.

The couple moved to the Northern San Diego area in 1967 and felt like they had found paradise. They moved to Solana Beach in 1969. Their daughter Cheryl was born in 1973. The family enjoyed playing tennis, biking, jogging, gardening and going to the beach. The climate was perfect for Barbara’s love of convertibles, which were the only cars she ever drove throughout her life.

Barbara learned about the Suzuki method of teaching young children music, and left the school system to found her own music school, the Suzuki School of Solana Beach. She was passionate about the method’s principals and taught children throughout North County violin, piano and cello for 30 years. She taught her daughter how to play the violin at the age of 3, Cheryl is now a professional violinist.

Barbara loved theater as well, and conducted many local musicals her daughter performed in. She also formed a video business for a while as well, called Video 5 star Productions. She enjoyed travel very much and incorporated her teaching adventures in faraway places such as Japan, Switzerland, Italy, Mexico, and the Continental United States.

She was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in 1989, but continued to teach her beloved Suzuki Students for the next 20 years. She left the Solana Beach area in 2009 but moved to the Santa Clarita area to live close to her daughter, son in law, and Grandchildren. Throughout her disease she continued to practice piano when she could, enjoyed dancing and weight training, attended a local art class to improve her writing skills, and enjoyed time with her family.

She is survived by her daughter, Cheryl Norman-Brick, her son-in-law, Daniel Brick, grandchildren Kristina and Kaitlyn Brick, her Sister Susan Clare, her sister-in-law Carol Clukies and nephews Scott and William Clukies. She was also very fond of her parents-in-law, John and Deborah Brick. Please join us in celebrating her life. In lieu of flowers, please send donations in her name to the Michael J. Fox Foundation.