Norman Adler

November 5, 1926 - May 20, 2025

Norman Adler passed away peacefully on May 20, 2025 during a brief hospitalization. He recently celebrated his 98th birthday at a family party in the Pepper Pike home that he built and never left.

Norman was the only child of Francis and Ben Adler who had immigrated from Bialystok and Russia respectively. His father died from endocarditis when Norman was 16, and this loss shaped his early dedication to hard work, family and the larger community. Upon graduation from Glenville High School he went into the US Army, and following his military service, he began a home building business while he simultaneously took courses at John Carroll and Western Reserve Universities.

Aware of the millions of returning veterans, his first project was a planned 50 home development in the Harvard Lee area, each priced at $8,250.00 (including a washer and dryer). With the aid of three model homes and the help of his able assistant, wife Rosalyn, all 50 homes sold during the initial weekend opening. He went on to develop and build single family and multifamily residential communities and commercial properties throughout Greater Cleveland and Phoenix. Arizona.

For more than 25 years, his daughter Amy, an attorney, was his vice president, and he rose to head the Cleveland Home Builders Association, where he honed his negotiating skills and a reputation for fairness. He was a generous civicist and was proud of his contributions, as a board member and often a leading member of various building committees, including Suburban Hospital, Mt Sinai Medical Center, Park Synagogue and Beechmont Country Club. He was known for his remarkable attention to detail, his ability to forecast supply chain and labor issues, his work ethic, his demanding nature, and his longtime loyal employees.

What drove Norman more than anything went back to his roots as an only child---an intense appreciation of family. He was close to his four children and their spouses and often spoke with them daily, including during his recent hospitalization. He fostered a relationship with each of his 11 grandchildren and their spouses, (many of whom spoke with him on an almost daily basis), and through his and his wife's efforts, he encouraged the cousins to treat each other as siblings. This remarkable legacy is now starting to take shape among his 9 great grandchildren.

Weekly, he looked forward to the pandemic-initiated Friday and Saturday Shabbat and Havdalah family ZOOM services. Week after week, without fail, when asked what he was thankful for, he would say “my wonderful family” and the “wonderful people who take care of me” -- his longtime aides Debbie James and Beverly Thomas and son-in- law James Becker, who lovingly made sure that every needed household supply was present and that every physicians' appointment was kept.

Norman was predeceased by his wife of 66 years, Rosalyn Burkons Adler, his cherished first cousins, Sylvia and Annette Eizelman, Robert Rothenberg, and Loretta Acks. He is survived by his four children, Bonnie Davis (Fred), Dale Adler (Nancy), Amy Becker (Jimmy), and David Adler (Hedy), his eleven grandchildren, Melissa Davis, Michael Davis, Matthew Davis (Ellie), Daniel Adler (Michele), Jonathan Adler, Emily Adler, Benjamin Becker (Katie), Mitchell Becker (Gabrielle), Josh Adler, Rachel Adler (Alex Dixit), Sarah Adler (Ben Kruger), and his nine great grandchildren Dylan and Blake Davis, Herschel and Penny Davis, Miles and Remy Adler, Levi and Louise Becker, and Aria Dixit.

Services will be held Friday, May 23rd at 2pm at Park Synagogue, 27500 Shaker Blvd. Pepper Pike. Interment Bet Olam Cemetery. To view this service, https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84736205136?pwd=iGZuzIYVqwGMbjZuwj4CKJ3WYuyzL4.1

Passcode:124893

Shiva will be on Sunday, May 25 2-5PM & 7-9PM at 32200 Pinetree Road, Pepper Pike.

Contributions are suggested to the Jewish Federation of Cleveland or Park Synagogue.