Norman Sobel

I have truly lost a brother. Norm and I shared a friendship of over 52 years and enjoyed a special kinship and bond that transcended time and geography. The memories and experiences that we nurtured together are forever engraved in my heart. On the last outing that we had together, chatting over an early dinner at a local restaurant, the words exchanged included: "friends listen to what you say; best friends listen to what you don't say". It was a privilege and an honor to call Norman a best friend. Rest in peace, my amigo......

I recall meeting Norm 25 years ago at a mutual friends card table. He was bright, inquisitive, sincere and warm. From that day, I was fortunate enough to call Norm my friend. As his health faded, his mind remained sharp and inquisitive as that first day. I consider myself truly lucky to have been able to call you friend.

Anyone whose life was touched by Norm cannot help but be deeply saddened by his passing. I've known Norm since the early 70s and everyone who befriended him then and onward remained in his heart to his last day. In his university days, he was respected and admired for his genius by his professors. He was quickly recognized as a star and promoted in his first job as engineer at Monsanto. He took his father's company to a new level when he decided to join him and despite challenging times, he always emerged in a better place. Norm's brilliance and fairness made him succeed at whatever he did, even when that meant moving on. Norm was a big part of my life for 8 years and we remained friends always, even when we lost touch for almost 20 years. His intelligence and curiosity was infectious and I credit him for introducing me to many aspects of the world and life that my sheltered previous life had left me ignorant of. When we reconnected after a long absence, I couldn't help but notice the quirky and endearing traits that had remained part of him: his laugh, his sense of humour, his optimism and his appreciation for the people he held dear. And some of his favourite meals were still what they were in the 70s: Harvey's and Swiss Chalet (St Hubert BBQ in Montreal). I am grateful for the wonderful memories he has left me with and more importantly for the lasting impact he had on my life. To his closest friends and family, I offer my heartfelt sympathy and support.