Dr. Norman Palin

Norm is survived by his wife Nikki, his children Hannah Palin of Seattle, Washington, Dina Palin of Hudson, New York and David Palin of Charlotte. Norm was immensely proud of his five grandchildren, Dominic, Cass, Michael, Jennifer and Emmet.

Norm is also survived by his brother Howard Palinsky of Boynton Beach, Florida, and his sister Rosalie Reichman of Sag Harbor, New York.

Services will be held at Temple Beth El, 5101 Providence Road, Charlotte, NC in Shalom Park on Thursday, August 3 at 1 PM. A reception after the services will be held at Temple Beth El.

In keeping with Norm’s wishes, as expressed emphatically and repeatedly to his note-taking friend Randy Chamberlain, his obituary is offered as thanks and encouragement to his family and friends. A self-confessed “piece of work,” and a highly educated professional negotiator who would, and often did, argue the price of bananas with the staff at Aldi’s, Norm savored the daily joys of laughter, family, friends, exercise, discussion, advice-giving, travel, a good meal and, most of all, the company of his wife Nikki, the love of his life.

Born in the south Bronx of New York City in 1932 of his Russian born father Murray and Polish born mother Lillian, Norm loved to joke that he was so poor that his parents couldn’t afford a middle name for him.

The son of a plumber, Norm, like many south Bronx young men of his day, began recurrent summer work in his early teens in the resorts of the Catskill mountains. He attributed those early work experiences away from home with teaching him life lessons of hard work and helped him map a route out of the south Bronx and into the worlds of education.

Norm excelled in athletics as a young man, eventually going to college on a basketball scholarship at Central Connecticut College. He earned a Master’s degree at New York University. Finishing with a Ph.D. from the University of Massachusetts, Norm climbed the ladder as an educator, first teaching public schools, eventually becoming a Superintendent of Schools in New York and retiring at age 60 as an Assistant Superintendent for Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools.

Tennis was one of the enduring passions of Norm’s life. He was an active member of the Levine Jewish Community Center, Olde Providence Racquet Club and Russell Racquet Club. As a senior player, Norm and a variety of partners participated in and won a long list of club, local, state and sectional USTA tennis tournaments and leagues. Norm served terms on the Board of Directors of OPRC and the Charlotte Tennis Association.

Norm was extremely grateful to a special group that helped both him and Nikki in his declining years. These people grew to know the loving side of Norm. His family offers a lifetime of thanks to BJ Gibson, Melida Castro, Maria Bu, Barbara Callery and Julie Dior.

Norm also leaves behind a coterie of tennis players, educators, water-aerobics enthusiasts, neighbors and bon vivants who were often subject to Norm’s never subdued, occasionally bombastic, always entertaining stories of his life’s travels, loves and events.

Until nine months before his death, Norm played tennis three times a week and regularly attended his water aerobics class at the Levine Jewish Community Center on his “off days.” He credited his survival and good spirits late in life largely to the fellowship and activities lovingly provided by JCC Chief Operating Officer Jennifer Lahn and her staff at the Levine JCC.

Norm formed special bonds with a number of health care professionals over the past few years. Helping Norm navigate the treacherous waters of his cancer and the accompanying later impairments, here is the short list: Drs. John Mahoney, Derrick McCaffery and Earle Burgess of the Levine Cancer Center. Drs. Sandy Peretsman and Ben Kirk of the Carolina Medical Center.

A connoisseur of bourbons, wines, athletic (read: attractive) women, black and white movies, friends who could make him laugh and beautiful one handed underspin backhands on the tennis court, Norm remained active and gregarious very late in life.