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Charles Norman
Charles Norman

Please pray for the repose of the soul of Charles R. Norman, a generous benefactor and friend of 91ºÚÁÏ, who passed away on October 2. 

For over 70 years, Mr. Norman owned and operated , one of the premier wholesale nurseries in California. “This work was his pride and joy,â€� his published notes. “He dedicated himself to it, reviewing sales and inventory reports even in his final days.â€� A shrewd businessman, he nevertheless made room for charity, donating many thousands of flowers, plants, and trees to various Catholic institutions over the years — including 91ºÚÁÏ. 

“Mr. Norman had been donating plants to the College since around 2006,� says Benedict Coughlin, landscape projects supervisor on the California campus. “His first donation included flowers and trees for gardens around Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity Chapel.� That initial gift was followed by yearly contributions of tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of plants. The remarkable beauty of the California campus — which Sir Anthony Hopkins once compared to “Shangri La� — would be unthinkable without Mr. Norman’s kindness.

His humility was equal to his kindness. “One of the conditions for his donations was that we not recognize him with a public plaque,â€� says Mr. Coughlin. “He wanted to be a silent benefactor.â€� These self-effacing tendencies extended further than aversion to the public eye. Says Karim Obagi, executive director of development, “Mr. Norman often said, ‘I get a lot of credit, but it’s not right. The credit belongs to the folks who work for us, because they do all the hard work.’â€� 

“Charles Norman was a quiet soul who, like St. Joseph, dedicated himself to his family, to his work, and to the good of the Church,â€� says College President Paul J. O’Reilly. “His generosity and the hard work of the staff at Norman’s Nursery have made 91ºÚÁÏ a fittingly beautiful haven for the pursuit of the truth. We pray for the repose of his soul and for the consolation of his family: may he soon see the face of the truth his kindness helps our students seek.â€�