Norman John Dubiel, D.O.
“Dr. Norm” passed away in Bradenton, Florida on August 24, 2018 after a prolonged illness. He had been in Hospice Home Care since April 2018. He is survived by Mary Louise, his beloved wife of 63 years and his three children: Dr. William and wife Kalista in Spokane, WA; Susan in Palmetto, FL; and Michael and wife Kami in Mercer, PA. He was tremendously proud of his eight grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren, all of whom he loved very much. Brother Edward and 8 nieces and nephews are in NY state.
Norm was also proud of his Polish heritage. His parents Therese and Stephan, who immigrated to this country as teenagers, raised five children in New York Mills, a small town in central New York state. He was able to take his 86 year old mother back to her “old country” in 1972 and visit there again with family in 2016.
His zest for life showed in his patience, compassion, kindness, generosity, faith and love toward his family, friends and co-workers. Education was always a goal for him and his children.
After graduation from High School, at 19 he joined the U.S. Navy and served aboard ship as a Damage Controlman for 3+ years during which time he actually sailed around the world - a much told story with pictures and souvenirs.
Formal education began with the GI Bill enabling him to receive a BS degree in Physical Education from Cortland State, followed by a March Of Dimes scholarship to receive a Certification in Physical Therapy from the University of Pennsylvania. After working for several years in a hospital, then as a Sports Medicine therapist, he once again attended school, this time graduating as an Osteopathic Physician and Surgeon from Kirksville Osteopathic College in Northeast Missouri. After an internship in Grand Rapids MI he became a “country doc” in Grove City/ Slippery Rock, PA, where he lived and worked for 20+ years.
When it was time for a change, he became an emergency medicine physician and he and Mary Lou sold the farm and traveled the country in an RV, living and working in a number of places in Pennsylvania, Virginia, Florida, Colorado, and Idaho. They eventually settled in Kellogg, Idaho where they built a lovely house on the side of a mountain and lived another 20 years until retiring to Florida in 2016. Norm still enjoyed his creative endeavors including building, ironwork and landscaping. He was always a longtime fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers and a highlight event was volunteering his medical services at Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans.
Norman is buried in the Memorial Garden of the Church of the Annunciation and his Celebration of Life service will be held on Dec. 26, 2018 at this church on Anna Maria Island in the town of Holmes Beach, FL.
Donations of honor may be made to Tidewell Hospice of
Bradenton, FL or his above mentioned church. Both have websites to consult.