Retired Colonel USA Medical Corp
Sunrise: March 10, 1948 Sunset: July 31, 2020
Norman Joseph Martin, was born on March 10, 1948 to Helen and Joseph Martin in Jamaica Queens, New York, just minutes from Manhattan. He was the oldest of three children. His brother Douglas Wayne Martin is deceased. His sister, Jo-Ann Anita Martin, lives in Danbury, CT.
Norman attended Peter Stuyvesant High School; City College, City University of New York; and Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, all in Manhattan, New York.
Norman’s paternal grandparents, his Uncle Jimmy, and his Aunt Gwen, were musically gifted and very supportive of the children in the Martin family. Norman and his brother had fond memories of their father and uncle singing in a male chorus. They got to travel with the grownups to concerts in New Rochelle, White Plains, Connecticut, and Teaneck, New Jersey. Thus his lifelong interest in playing the piano and choral singing.
Norman’s maternal relatives lived in nearby Brooklyn and the New Jersey shore towns of Asbury Park, Long Branch, and Belmar. Large Thanksgiving dinners were usually with the New Jersey branch of the family.
He had a happy childhood and excelled in his music and school studies. Extended family and many professionals surrounded him. These professionals were close friends to his parents and part of the community fabric of Jamaica Queens. His mother was a registered nurse who taught nursing at Queens Hospital Center. His dad, a World War II veteran, worked for the New York Metropolitan Transit Authority as a bus driver. When he retired he studied at Brooklyn Community College.
A festive, annual holiday party at his grandparents home was a highlight for Norman, his siblings, and their friends. The children were able to stay up late on this party night. His grandfather was a retired, Seventh Day Adventist Minister and professionals from all over the New York Metropolitan area attended this event.
Norman began piano lessons at age 9. He continued piano lessons and organ lessons with Mrs. Rachel Mills and Lloyd Chung respectively until he entered College. He also played the violin in Stuyvesant High School’s Orchestra. His family physician told Norman to “ stay with music” and his Piano teacher, Mrs. Mills told him to “stay with medicine”.
Friendships included school and church buddies, particularly buddies from summer camp at Victory Lake Camp in the Hamlet of Hyde Park bordering the Hudson River in New York State. His first summer job was as a boys counselor.
Norman graduated from New York City’s Peter Stuyvesant High School in 1965 and City College, City University of New York in 1969 . He joined the U.S. Army as a reserve medical officer while enrolled at The Mount Sinai School of Medicine. He was awarded a deferral from active duty in order to complete a civilian internship and residency programs in Internal Medicine at Boston’s New England Medical Center Hospital in 1975 and Howard University in 1976 in Washington, D.C.
Active Duty service began at Fitzsimmons Army Medical Center in Aurora, Colorado. There he completed an Hematology/Medical Oncology Fellowship. Following this training he had staff assignments at Army Medical Centers in San Francisco, California, El Paso, Texas, and Washington, D.C.
In 1992 and 1993 Norman had operational assignments as Commander of the Army Hospital in Honduras, Central America and Commander of the Army Clinic at Ft. Meyer, VA. He retired from active duty status in 1999 and continued in civilian subspecialty medical practice in Richmond, VA. He worked at Walter Reed Army Hospital and Ft. Belvoir Community Hospital until 2011. Even in semi retirement Norman continued to support various group practices on the east coast by working as a locum tenens physician in his subspecialty of Hematology/Oncology until 2019.
Norman had several special assignments including: Medical Doctor for the Congressional Black Caucus’ trip to attend Nelson Mandela’s Inauguration in South Africa and Medical Director for Military Inauguration Committee, Military District of Columbia, for President Bill Clinton and Vice President Al Gore.
Norman’s passion was music.
He started taking piano lessons at the age of nine. He played the piano and the organ for services in the Linden Boulevard Seventh Day Adventist Church throughout his years living in New York City. He was lead violinist in the Stuyvesant High School Orchestra. He was one of the Sabbath School pianists at Sligo Seventh Day Adventist Church in Takoma Park, MD and a baritone in their church choir.
Norman married the former Joyce A. Dorsey on May 25 1975 in Pottstown, Pennsylvania. To this union were added two sons, Kyle Edward and Neal Judson.
Norman considered the Silver Spring, College Park area of Maryland to be home because his father had suggested that “home is where you raise your children”. Norman gave credit to his parents, other relatives, his wife, sons, patients, friends, and church music for a productive and happy life, one filled with cherished memories.
He was a wonderful Christian, a caring family man, and friend to all. Throughout his life He was committed to serving the Lord. He will be missed and we all look forward to seeing him at Jesus’ return.
Norman leaves to cherish memories: his wife, Joyce; his son Kyle and his wife Tonia, his son Neal and his wife Asashia; grandchildren, Chase, Landon, and Laila; his mother Helen of Laurel, Maryland; his sister, Jo-Ann Martin, Danbury, Connecticut; nephew and niece Daniel and Kimberly of Waco, Texas; Aunt Gloria Garrett; Uncle Desmond (Lillian) Norman, cousins: Robert (Sharon), Anthony (Meryl), Albert(Eva), Desmond (Laurie), Anita (Tredick), Ralph (Ellen), Janet, Helaine (Tyrus), and a host of second cousins, family members, and friends.
The Martin family wishes memorial contributions be made to
the Adventist Community Services of Greater Washington- Donations can be made at acsgw.org- Comment section - In memory of Dr. Norman J. Martin .
It is a 501c3 organization that serves the humanitarian needs of the neighborhoods in the vicinity of his church.
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