Dr. Robert Norman Obituary (1955 - 2025)

Dr. Robert A. Norman, known affectionately as “Rob” or “Zayde” to his family, “Doc Rob” to his friends, and “Doc” to the many patients whose lives he touched, passed away on February 14, 2025, due to complications of pneumonia following a very successful stem cell transplant. He passed, surrounded by love, with his wife, Carol, and two of his children, Fionna and Daniel, by his side. Robert was born in 1955 in Grand Rapids Michigan to Lawrence and Estelle (Gutowitz). He was a lover of nature ever since he was a young child. The baby of four boys his brother Howard told a story of Robert when he was six years old while Howard was walking him to school. Robert saw a turtle and took off his sweater and waved it to stop traffic in order to pick up a turtle from the road. Where he proceeded to school carrying the turtle to let the principal know that he was going to take it to a pond and let it go. The principal said that he was going to give him a demerit. Robert had to save the turtle’s life so he took the demerit. A story that all of his friends and members of the Sierra Club in Tampa would not be surprised to hear. Robert followed in the footsteps of his uncle, Dr. Erwin Gutowitz, his mentor in medicine. He pursued a degree as a Doctor of Osteopathy, initially in family medicine before later specializing in dermatology. He had been practicing dermatology in Tampa since 1994 and also provided dermatological care to nursing home and assisted living patients at their bedside. Until the massive shutdowns due to COVID-19 in 2020, he and his provider staff were serving more than 550 nursing homes statewide in Florida. His passion for the geriatric population fueled his dedication to helping them and inspired him to write Geriatric Dermatology, a book still used in many medical schools today. His love of teaching brought hundreds of students to his office to shadow and learn from him. Robert’s passion for medicine was matched by his love for writing, having authored hundreds of articles and 76 published books. It was not uncommon to find him spending hours writing when he wasn’t caring for patients or enjoying the outdoors—hiking, kayaking, and taking photographs. His love of photography became widely known when he started creating an annual calendar for his patients. He also ordered canvas prints of his favorite photos to gift to patients and often donated them to nursing homes, providing residents with beautiful landscapes to enjoy. For many years, Robert participated in medical missions with the Hillsborough County Osteopathic Society in Treasure Beach, Jamaica. During his tenure as president of the society, he established the Ken Webster Scholarship Award. Robert was a proud and devoted supporter of his Jewish heritage. He worked with Young Israel in Tampa to establish the Norman Jewish Library, a space where the Jewish community and others can enjoy reading, teaching, guest speakers, events, and celebrations of holidays and life milestones. He was a longtime supporter of the Jewish Community Center (JCC) and the Jewish National Fund (JNF), traveling to Israel with the JNF and supporting the Alexander Muss High School in Israel, which provides American students with the opportunity to study abroad and experience life in Israel. At the time of his passing, Robert was working on a documentary based on his book about the Star of David. Robert’s zest for life extended beyond medicine, nature, writing, and photography—he also had a deep love for music. He played the harmonica, wrote lyrics, and collaborated with his friend Winston to create four CDs. He first picked up the harmonica while attending medical school in Chicago, where he enjoyed listening to blues musicians. Robert’s sudden passing leaves an immense void in the lives and hearts of those who knew him. He was more than a husband, father, stepfather, brother, uncle, cousin, mentor, and friend—he was a force of nature. He lived more in one lifetime than many do in several. He is survived by his wife, Carol; his stepchildren, Andrea (Daniel) and Phillip; his children, Daniel, Benjamin (Tiana), and Fionna; his step-grandchildren, Adrianna and Brandon; and his grandchildren, Titus, Petra, and Atlas. He is also survived by his brothers, Howard and Steven, as well as his nieces, Michelle and Emma, and many other nieces, nephews, cousins, and his brother-in-law. He was preceded in death by his parents, Lawrence and Estelle, and his brother, Michael. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society or to Young Israel Tampa for the maintenance of the Norman Jewish Library. Services for Robert will be held on Monday, February 24, at 10 AM at: Congregation Beth Am 2030 W Fletcher Ave, Tampa, Florida 33612 Burial will take place at: Hartwood Preserve, Starkey Blvd. (Immediate family only) Kaddish will be held at 2 PM at: Young Israel Norman Jewish Library 13207 N. 52nd St., Temple Terrace, FL Food will follow at Temple.