NORMAN HOWARD LEVEY, MD

January 8, 1949 - November 16, 2024

Norman Howard Levey, 75, passed away on November 16, 2024. He was a loving father, grandfather, husband, brother, son, distinguished physician, friend to many in Hawaii and the Mainland.

He was born to Stanley and Jennie Levey in Detroit, Michigan. He grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, with a short stint in Pasadena, California as a teenager that left him determined to learn to surf. As an undergrad at UCSD, this dream came true. During college he was involved in research with tree-shrews under the auspices of neurosurgeon Dr. John Jane. He then entered medical school at the University of Virginia, where he was a faithful alumnus and attended reunions every five years. After graduation, he returned to Cleveland for his internship, residency, and fellowship training, and became board-certified in Internal Medicine, Hematology, Oncology, and later, Palliative Care.

Norman married Joyce Cassen, and had 2 children, Daniel and Sara. Moving to Hawaii in 1985 to escape Cleveland's brutal winters, he practiced at Hawaii Permanente Medical Group from 1985-2009. He loved his patients, and they loved him.

Throughout his life, he maintained a dry sense of humor. When he was told that the bluetooth on the phone was not working, he recommended seeing a dentist. When told that monkeys picked tea, he commented that he would only drink the tea if they were union monkeys. Norm was an avid reader as well, and enjoyed cruises with the family.

Norm enjoyed the sport of judo, and excelled in it. Martial arts movies with Toshiro Mifune enthralled him. He was a devoted physician and father, and grandfather. In 2003, son Daniel, aged 19 at the time, fell to his death from a ridge in the Pali area while hiking. This tragic event affected the entire family.

Norm loved Hawaii, the warmth of the people of the Islands, and the natural environment. Although he moved to the Mainland to be close to his daughter and granddaughters, in 2018, he wished to return to the Islands. Now he is finally returning. His gentle demeanor, his wit and wisdom, will be sorely missed by all that had the pleasure and fortune to know him. The high school yearbook entry for Norm's father read, "He worked quietly but well," and that applied equally to Norm.

Norm is survived by wife Joyce; daughter Sara; granddaughters Leah Rose age 7, and Danielle Joy, age 4 ½; a sister Debbie (Crispin); and cousins on the Mainland.

Graveside services will be Wednesday, November 27, 2024, 11 am, at Mililani Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, please donate to Midbar Kodesh Temple at Midbarkodesh.org, of Kaiser Permanente Hawaii at ipg@kp.org