Dr. Norman Hill died peacefully on January 18, 2020. He was born in 1928, to Ella Singbush and Charles Hill. Norman was a true North Ender, raised on Charles Street, he was a grad of St. John’s Tech, where he was school president, operetta star and top athlete. Bess and Norm were married for almost 60 years and raised five kids, many grandkids and great grandchildren. They truly enjoyed each other’s company and their time with friends.
Norman graduated with honours from the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Manitoba (1952). Subsequent award-winning research in blood chemistry lead to an M.Sc. in Medicine and Physiology. Norman entered neurosurgical residency at the Mayo Clinic and in 1958 returned to Winnipeg to begin practice.
Beyond his clinical work, Norman helped create a neurosurgical centre of excellence in the city. He considered his most important contribution to academic neurosurgery was fostering integration of neurosurgery with other neurosciences, which lead to ground breaking new procedures and facilities. As Head of Neurosurgery at Health Science Centre and St. Boniface Hospital, he brought the first CAT scan machine to Winnipeg. In 1994 Norman was invited to senior membership of the international Society of Neurological Surgeons. In later years, he led a national program for a neglected group of patients – the permanently brain injured. In retirement he continued to lecture at the University of Manitoba.
Norm played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers from 1951-1953 and as a Calgary Stampeder, he was key to their infamous win in the 1948 Grey Cup.
Friends and family are invited to gather for a celebration of Norm’s life on Friday, January 24 at 4:30 p.m. at St. Andrew’s River Heights United Church, 255 Oak St. Memorial donations may be made to the St. Andrews Foundation, or to a charity of choice.
VIA: The Winnipeg Blue Bomber Alumni Association
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