Norman C. Thomas *59

Norman died in Cincinnati May 25, 2023. 

Born Feb. 16, 1932, in Sioux Falls, S.D., Norman grew up in Marquette, Mich. He earned his undergraduate degree in political science from the University of Michigan in 1953. Norman served in the Navy during the Korean War and in the Navy Reserve for an additional decade. As a Woodrow Wilson fellow, he earned a Ph.D. in politics from Princeton in 1959. 

Norman taught at the University of Michigan, Duke University, and the University of Cincinnati, where he was named the Charles Phelps Taft Professor of Political Science in 1980. He received awards for excellence in teaching from both the University of Michigan and the University of Cincinnati. 

Active in professional organizations, Norman published nine books and numerous articles. During his retirement, he taught at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute and was a featured speaker for Cincinnati organizations. He served as an elder and clerk of the session at the Presbyterian Church of Wyoming, Ohio.

Norman is survived by his wife of 70 years, Marilyn; daughters Margaret, Elizabeth, and Anne; 12 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his son, Robert.