Mr. Norman Thomas George

Norman Thomas George, 81, of Savannah, Georgia (formerly South Carolina, New Jersey, and Ohio), passed away peacefully February 22, 2023, at home surrounded by his loving family. Norman was born in Cincinnati, Ohio to Thomas and Helen George in 1941.

After attending Purcell Marian High School, in Cincinnati, he graduated from University of Cincinnati with Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy in the spring of 1963.  While at college, he met the love of his life, Julie Ann, his wife of 56 years.

Norman joined the American subsidiary of Hoechst AG Pharmaceuticals upon graduation from pharmacy school and worked there for most of his career.  He headed the manufacturing operations while also holding several prominent board positions in the American Pharmaceutical Association until 1998.  He then co-founded a pharmaceutical consulting company, Bridge Associates, until he formally retired in 2001.

A lifelong Cincinnati Reds fan, Norman was active in sports throughout his life, playing baseball in his youth, learning to ski in his 40s, and competing in tennis and golf into his late 70s.  In his 60s and 70s, he and his tennis team, the Dataw Island Dawgs, won many local, regional, and a national championship during his tenure with the team.

He was a devoted father and grandfather who took an active role in his children’s and grandchildren’s activities and interests attending many, many swim meets, soccer matches, baseball games, theatre performances, music recitals and marching band competitions.  

Norman is survived by his loving wife, Julie; daughters, Lisa (Rob) Jillson of Chicago, IL, Susan (Dave) Little of Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, and Karen (Yusuf) Hameed of Savannah, GA; grandchildren: Simon and Noah Jillson; Sydney Little; and Julia and Joshua Hameed; two sisters: Rosemary (Ben) Krieger, and Elaine (John-predeceased) Blum; as well as beloved cousins, nieces, nephews, and many dear friends.  Norman often said that there were no strangers, only friends he hadn’t yet met.

Family and friends are invited to a funeral mass at The Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist – 222 E Harris Street, Savannah, Georgia 31401 at 10:00am on Thursday, March 2, 2023. The family will have a visiting hour beginning at 9:00 AM on Thursday prior to the memorial mass at the church. A prayer service at the gravesite is planned at Catholic Cemetery - 1720 Wheaton Street, Savannah, GA 31404 immediately following the mass.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital in memory of Mr. Norman Thomas George.