Dr. Amos Norman, co-founder of the UCLA Biomedical Physics Graduate Program and professor emeritus in the radiation oncology and radiologcal sciences departments, died on Aug. 8 after a brief illness. He was 87.
Norman’s career at UCLA spanned more than 50 years, as he began teaching in 1951 in the department of radiological sciences.
Norman was recruited to the university by Dr. Moses Greenfield, a UCLA professor who eventually co-founded the Biomedical Physics Graduate Program with Norman in 1960. The program utilizes interdepartmental cooperation to train students in molecular and medical imaging, therapeutic medical physics, and molecular and cellular oncology to prepare them for careers as independent researchers or professional medical physicists, according to the program Web site.
“He was very dedicated,” said Dr. Michael McNitt-Gray, current program director of the Biomedical Physics Graduate Program and Norman’s former student. “He was concerned about students and liked being around students.”
In addition to his work for the program, Norman was also known for his prolific teaching efforts. Throughout his time at UCLA, Norman led seminars and lectures for graduate students and undergraduates and even discussed radiation safety with UCLA medical students.
“He gave students a nice background ““ how to relate research and radiation,” McNitt-Gray said. “It was always great to have him around for that perspective.”
But it was his research that won him the most accolades.
One of Norman’s major areas of concentration was the study of X-ray phototherapy, in which a medical imagery scanner is modified to deliver radiation doses to tumors using x-rays. For his efforts, Norman was awarded a patent, along with several UCLA co-researchers, McNitt-Gray said.
He also received other awards, including a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Association of Physicists in Medicine and various fellowships.
But beyond his academic accomplishments, his colleagues and former students spoke of his caring personality.
“I will miss his warm and unique sense of humor,” said Terry Moore, student affairs officer for the Biomedical Physics Graduate Program. “He would always bring dozens of Chinese fortune cookies to the office for me to pass out to the students for good luck.”
She added that Norman was also concerned with supporting youth activities, as he made regular monetary contributions to her son’s school fundraisers for various performance events, including a donation to Long Beach Polytechnic High School’s music program so that the students would be able to participate in the Reno Jazz Festival.
Former student Dr. Kei Iwamoto expressed similar statements.
“My first impression was that he was a kind and gentle senior academician,” he said. “He was very approachable.”
Iwamoto, who is now a faculty member of the Biomedical Physics Graduate Program, said that Norman created a casual atmosphere during laboratory meetings by interspersing discussions with informal talk of current events, books and movies, all while wearing his trademark outfit of a polo shirt, khaki pants and running shoes.
“That’s what made it fun ““ he excited everyone about science,” Iwamoto said.
Iwamoto added that Norman encouraged dialogue with his students, often taking them to a hamburger restaurant in Westwood during their free time.
These efforts to make connections often led to long-term friendships, as he kept in touch with many former students, including Iwamoto.
At one point, Norman visited him in Japan, where Iwamoto was working, while on a cruise with his wife.
“He was a great mentor and graduate advisor,” he said. “I couldn’t have asked for anyone better.”
Norman was born on Nov. 25, 1921 in Vienna, Austria.
He later graduated from Harvard University in 1943 with a degree in physics and immediately joined the U.S. Army, serving as an officer in the 101st Airborne Division during World War II.
After his time in the service, Norman continued his education by enrolling at Columbia University, where he received his Master of Science degree in physics in 1947, followed by his Ph.D. in biophysics in 1950 and a postdoctoral fellowship in 1951.
Norman was preceded in death by his wife Elaine (Atlas) Norman and is survived by his four children Dean, Jane, Kim and Joyce, as well as his nine grandchildren.
A celebration of Norman’s life is being organized for Tuesday, Sept. 8 from 2:30 to 5 p.m. at the Faculty Center.