Dr. Norman M. Kopman

Dr. Norman M. Kopman, 78, of Newport, passed away peacefully on Sunday, November 29, 2020, as the sun was rising over the intra-coastal water way.

A memorial service for Dr. Kopman will be held at 7 p.m. on Sunday, January 10, 2021, officiated by Lay Leader Carla Byrnes. Friends are welcome to attend the service. For those unable to attend, the family invites you to view the webcasting of the service through his obituary page on Munden Funeral Home’s website. In keeping with the CDC guidelines pertaining to the Coronavirus, those who are ill or at-risk (elderly, immune-compromised) are encouraged to stay home. Additionally, there will be a limit to the number of people in the building at one time, as well, those who attend will be asked to bring and wear a protective mask. Help us honor the family while practicing safe measures. Friends are also encouraged to leave words of comfort to the family through the website.

Norman was born November of 1942 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was raised in a multi-generational home by his loving grandparents, Jacob and Molly Nackowitz and his professional working parents, Herman and Pauline Kopman.

Norman attended Akiba Hebrew Academy, the oldest pluralistic Jewish secondary school in the United States. This past year, 2020, Norman was able to join his Akiba classmates in a reunion via Zoom which he greatly enjoyed.

His college years were spent at Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, graduating with a Bachelor’s in Biological Sciences. Upon graduating college, he went on to medical school attending Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Norman proudly joined the United States Army in 1969, during the Vietnam War, serving as a physician stateside where he completed his training and residency programs the next 6 years. During his time at William Beaumont Army Medical Center in El Paso, Texas, he and his first wife, Joan, were blessed with their daughter Stephanie.

Norman was accepted into the William F. Miller Pulmonary Fellowship Program at Dallas Methodist Hospital in 1974. After completing his fellowship, he set up a solo pulmonary practice in Dallas. He served Southwest Dallas area and its residents for the next 38 years. His practice included years of Medical Directorships of ICU, and Cardiopulmonary Departments.

Norman balanced his busy career with outside interests which included jogging, bicycling, fresh and saltwater sailing both nationally and internationally. He had a 34-year poker game he attended with his long-term poker buddies. He also loved his gentleman’s farm in Waxahachie, Texas and all his rescue dogs and animals. He enjoyed movies, dinner reservations, music, and the arts.

Norman retired in 2015. In 2016, he sustained a spinal cord injury due to a neurosurgery procedure done by Moody Brain and Spine Institute. This forever changed his mobility and life and the life of his wife, caregiver and advocate, Trish.

He is survived by his wife, Trish Kopman; daughter, Stephanie Beike and husband Brian of Evanston, Illinois; and stepson, Michele Indelicato and wife Gretchen of New York, NY.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Herman and Pauline Kopman; brother, Arthur Kopman; cousins; nieces; and nephews.

The Kopman family would like to thank the following institutions for providing their help and expertise toward Norman’s care, John Hopkins; U.T. Southwestern; Duke Health, V.A. Dallas; V.A. Durham; Carteret Health Care; 3HC Home Health; Community Access Healthcare; Aaron Mauro, his healthcare aide; and Cheryl Lewis, Nurse Practitioner and neighbor.

In lieu of flowers, please make a memorial contribution to the following:

• Broad Street Clinic, 534 N. 35th St., Suite K, Morehead City, NC 28557
• National Audubon Society, Attention Donations, 225 Varick St., 7th Floor, New York, NY 10014 or act.audubon.org/a/donate
• Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy, 272 Byrn Mawr Ave., Byrn Mawr, PA 19010

Family and friends are welcome to submit online condolences at www.mundenfuneralhome.net

Arrangements are by Munden Funeral Home & Crematory, Morehead City, NC.