Tuesday, March 5, 2024
Norman will ever be remembered as a member of the Alitons family. A kind, gentle, and patient man who loved taking care of people and bringing smiles to their soul with his funny, puns and jokes. I remember my first interaction with Norman when an old, mutual and beloved friend Harriet McCooey, had contacted myself with hopes of me filling in as a part-time pharmacist at Alitons Pharmacy one afternoon. I remember my first day driving into Port Jervis where I sustained a blow out in a pothole just before parking my car in the parking lot at Alitons old location 171 Pike Street. As I entered the store and saw old wheelchairs and dusty shelves of Pharmacy product, a smiling Pharmacist greeted me from the rear of the building. It was Norm, and he said, with a warm, gentle smile, you must be the relief Pharmacist. He then tossed me the keys to the Pharmacy told me the store closes at six, and don’t forget to lock up as he left the building. There I stood in a quandary As I worked my first day at Alitons Pharmacy. We would joke about that story often, and he would chuckle and say I knew you’d figure out how to make it work your way. As Time would have it, with the passing of the previous owner, Robert Bauman,, the Pharmacy became for sale. We purchased it months later November 14, 1991. To my happy surprise Norman came back and offered to work for us on a part-time basis and a wonderful 25 year friendship began.
Norman knew a lot of influential people in town and was a very vital contributor to the success of Alitons Pharmacy. We shared in many stories, one funnier than next of how Pharmacy had changed over his career. I remember when we got our first real computer system and would look me in the eye and said are you sure you want to do this? And we struggled to make Alitons Pharmacy advance in its way.
Norman was always someone you could count on who was always there to lend a friendly hand a gentle ear and give some wise discerning advice. We all gathered with some of his family together around 2014 when he came into the pharmacy and said he was about to fill his last prescription. Truly a dedicated man to his profession and the general public. Throughout all his work for us he never once stop talking about his beautiful children and grandchildren, and all of their stories from countries afar. There was always a special look of love in his eyes for his grandchildren, and all the successes they were experiencing. He was a very loving grandfather, and kept family always at the forefront. He always wanted to hear how my children were doing as well.
As time progressed, and his health began to fail, we saw less of Norman, but one key Point comes to mind. He never once forgot my birthday and would always remember to call and stay in touch and take a few minutes to catch up and share a few stories of his beautiful family. He loved his family and wife relentlessly. He was truly a friend and will be so sorely missed by many. Rest in peace, my loyal friend, and we too someday shall meet again.
Carl Braunagel
Aliton’s Pharmacy
