Tribute to Norman

It was with deep shock and sadness that we learned of the passing of our dear friend and colleague, Norman Burmeister just this past week. Since then, I have found myself thinking of all the good times that my family and I shared with Norman and Wilgine in Saudi Arabia, beginning way back in the summer of 1990.

We first met Norm and Wilgy in Nashville, Tennessee in July of 1990, all of us participating in an orientation program before we headed to Riyadh. Norm and Wilgy had already been in the country before, so they had experience with the Arabian customs. In our group of 12, we bombarded them with questions about what to expect as we headed to the Middle East. Norm was one of those people you know you like right away, his easy going manner, good humor and the constant smile on his face made him a person that you wanted to know and be around.

During our first few months in Riyadh, we spent quite a bit of time with Norm and Wilgine. They lived on one of the married compounds at the hospital, so, we were able to commingle with all of the members who were in our Orientation group, and, they had one of the biggest and nicest swimming pools in Riaydh! While we sweated through the summer heat and the first Gulf War, Norm was always calm, cool and collected. Nothing ever seemed to bother him; he was always in a good mood. Whenever I was having a bad day at work, I would shuffle down the hall to the Blood Bank department and talk to Norm. He would always greet you with a big smile and say “ Hey Man, how’s it going?” After talking with him for a few minutes, feeling better, I would head on back to my department. Norm’s favourite saying was “No Problem”, and looking back now, nothing was ever so bad as it seemed, it was indeed, “No Problem”

We went on to spend almost 10 years in Saudi, and we became very good friends with Norm and Wilgy, as did everyone who met them. Some of my favourite memories of Norm:

1. Hey Norm, I got a big date tonight, can I bring her over to your place for supper? Norm responds: “Sure, no problem, bring her over…”

2. Hey Norm, we need a nice Christmas tree for Christmas; can we go over to the BX and pick one up? Norm responds: “Sure, no problem, shop as long as you want.”

3. Hey Norm, can I come over and watch the big game tonight? “Sure, no problem.”

4. Hey Norm, we are going out for a picnic this weekend in the desert, do you guys want to come? We always hoped he would say yes because he drove this big humongous red and yellow Suburban. We would load that beast up with coolers full of food, pop, water, chairs, tables, everything but the kitchen sink. There was Norm, behind the wheel, wearing his famous silver rimmed sunglasses with the mirror lens, looking very cool. “Sure, no problem, we’ll go”.

5. Hey Norm, next week is Mongolian food night at the Rock compound, can I go with you guys? “Sure, no problem”. I think Mongolian night was Norm’s favourite because he would always load his plate to overflowing. “Hey Norm, you have enough food there to feed Ghengas Khan and his army”. “You got that right man, no problem”

6. Hey Norm, we are having a get together next week, can you and Wilgy come over? “Sure, no problem…”

7. Hey Norm, we are baptizing our son next week, at a secret location downtown so the Saudi religious police don’t know about it, can you come and celebrate with us. “Sure, no problem..”

8. Hey Norm, can you come back down from Heaven and be with us again, because Norm, we really miss you down here buddy. Alas, Norm has not responded to this one, but I’m sure if he could, he would.

These are just a few of the very good memories that my family and I have had with Norm and Wilgy. I’m sure that all of Norm’s friends have just as many memories as we do, if not more.

Thank you Norman for you friendship you shared with us over the years, you made life in Riyadh more bearable. So bearable that we stayed almost 10 years, and like you, I married a fantastic Filipino lady. Thank you Norm, so much. We miss you even more.

Runway 1 is clear for take off, fly safe up there in Heaven, keep an eye on us down here.

It was a deep shock and sadness to me to hear the news of Norman Burmeister.

My good friend Thomas Kwiatkowski sends me an e-mail titled “Norman Burmeister”

As soon as I read the title before reading the e-mail, I said to myself.. I am going to ask Tome for Norm’s phone number to talk to him. I was shocked to read the news, and was silent for a few minutes remembering his kind face with a generous smile. The main memories come to my mind about Norman is his smile. He was a very generous and a kind man with a wonderful sense of humour. I remember a habit of Norman’s when he talk about something funny but discreet, he will look right and left then he will talk, making you laugh hilariously. Norman was one of the best Americans I worked with at KFSH&RC. It was very common to see Norman and Thomas during the morning break heading to GOSI for coffee. Yes, Mario Hemens described him nicely when he said, he used to wear a silver sun glass and looks cool guy. I used to joke with them, and say here is the double trouble. Andrew Buchannan one of our Cytology friends used to say to Norman and Tome ... “Blues brothers”. We will miss you Norman and miss a wonderful personality that was always positive and funny no matter what. Kind smiley face with optimistic vision and with “No Problem things”... My deepest condolence to your family and to all of your friends.

____________________________________________________________________
Dr. Abdulrahman Alzahrani, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Johns Hopkins Medical Institution
Department of Pathology
Clinical Chemistry division
600 N. Wolfe Street / Meyer B-121
Baltimore, Maryland 21287-7065
(Cell): 443-535-3323
(Work):410-502-7691
(Fax): 410-955-0767

A Tribute to Norm Burmeister

By Rose Kwiatkowski

N o problem, he’d say.

O h, we’ll miss you.

R ode around in a big GMC.

M ade life fun.

A lways ready to help.

N ear us in spirit.

B rought us joy.

U nderstood people.

R isk taker.

M emorable character.

E asy going good friend.

I nterested in beating the odds.

S tood his ground.

T old us to “Go with the flow”.

E stablished the Riyadh connection.

R emembered for his stamina, strength, and beaming smile.

From Leah & Bill

My husband Bill and I came to know Norman and Wilgine
after the Saudi experience. My brother Kenn and
sister-in-law Agnes and their kids, Kenneth and Karen
had gotten their Canadian immigration papers and they
were vacationing in the U.S. before going to Canada.
As we gave them a little tour of the Western U.S., we
naturally had to take them to Las Vegas. Agnes said
one of her friends in the Lab settled in Las Vegas and
had told her to call him when they were in town. It
was late but nevertheless, Norman and Wilgine welcomed
us and insisted we stay in their house.
The next day we went to the strip and boy, Norman was
a lot of fun. He and Bill accompanied the kids on the
rides. They went up the Stratosphere tower and rode
the roller coaster and even went up the inversion at
Circus Circus. Norman was daring and had no care in
the world. When he was with kids, he acted like one of
them. When he was with adults, he was one.
We developed a friendship with Norman and Wilgine
right away. Even after we helped move Kenn and family
to Canada, we would come visit them for a few days
every year and we had FUN. A little gambling, and lots
of food courtesy of their free points and they would
patiently fall in line with us to get the freebies. T
shirts, cups, photo frames.
We last saw Norman in October. He was so excited about
getting his pilot license and he was telling us how he
passed the test. We shared stories about Kenn and his
family and we were laughing and just very happy. We
had our last dinner at the seafood buffet, where we
both piled our plates with shrimp. The last day, Bill,
Norman, Wilgine and Trini played the slot tournament.
Bill and Trini had the high scores but I think it was
Norman who enjoyed himself because he didn't care so
much about the outcome but how he played the game.
This pretty much sums up his life. He lived it to the
fullest. He was never afraid to try anything. He took
whatever life offered him and he enjoyed every bit of
it. He was kind and generous and was just a delightful
person to be with. He comes closest to a what a
funloving angel would be if he came to earth. Even now
as I write about him, his smiling image comes to mind.
We will miss him but he'll be around to look after
Wilgine and remind us to have a little fun in this
life.

Leah