HARRIS

Posted by Cathy Gowdy on Sunday, August 13, 2006 at 05:45:59 :

San Francisco Chronicle
Monday, May 6, 2002
B5

HARRIS, Norman M., M.D. - Of Piedmont, California, died Friday, April 26, at the age of 82, of complications of Parkinson's disease. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Marjorie P. Harris, M.D., and by their children Tom Harris, of Amherst, Massachusetts, Fred Harris, of Mill Valley, California, and Mary Harris, M.D., of Eugene, Oregon, as well as by 5 grandchildren. Dr. Harris was an orthopedist specializing in spine surgery. He attended Reed College and the University of Oregon Medical School, completing his internship and residency in orthopedics at the University of Wisconsin Medical School. After service in the Army Medical Corps, he began private practice in Coos Bay, Oregon, then moved to the San Francisco Bay Area, where he conducted a private practice and participated in a variety of orthopedic research projects. He published his work in numerous presentations and papers and was a member of many professional societies. He was much loved by his patients, to whom he was devoted and many of whom stayed in touch long after his retirement. His attention to his patients led to an early understanding of the implications of referred pain and a great interest in the mechanisms for peripheral expression of back and neck problems in manifestations such as headache and carpal tunnel syndrome. He was of an inventive mind, developing innovations in surgical techniques and devices, among them anterior cervical fusion, the intervertebral staple and the lightweight halo. He was a humanist and scientist through and through. His boundless curiosity and enthusiasm led him to many avocations, including music, cabinetmaking and tennis. He had a great love for the natural world, especially for free flowing rivers. He was an avid kayaker and an enthusiastic supporter of the Sierra Club and other conservation organizations. He was among the gentlest and most generous of men. His appreciation for others was always apparent in the way that he gave attention, and in the salience, originality and humor of his conversation. Those who knew him loved him, and will miss him greatly. His life will be celebrated with a private gathering at the family home. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to Earth Justice or to the Sierra Club.