Norman Ivan Bishop

Norm was born in Silverton, Colorado to Loren Earl and Dolly Violet (Shirk) Bishop on June 29, 1928. He lived there until he was seven-years-old. His father was a railroad man and the family moved frequently during the next few years, living in Utah, California, Nevada and Washington. His family moved to Salt Lake City in 1942 where he attended South High School, meeting his high school sweetheart, Patricia Jean Sutherland, in Latin class. They married in 1948. He attended the University of Utah earning Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD (Physiology) degrees, graduating in 1955. During this time three children were born; Bryan, Craig and Julie. He was offered a post-doctoral post at the University of Chicago and worked in a research laboratory supported by the Fels Foundation headed by James Frank, a Nobel Prize winning physicist, and Hans Gaffron. This was the beginning of a long and very productive relationship with German scientists. A son, James, was born during the years in Chicago. In January 1960 the entire lab moved to Tallahassee, Florida, where he stayed until the summer of 1963 when Oregon State University offered him a position in the Botany and Plant Physiology Department. With this move to Oregon they welcomed their fifth child, daughter Diane. He remained at OSU for 30 years teaching and doing research. He was first and foremost a scientist and loved every minute that he was in the lab. During these years, he mentored several graduate students as well as hosting foreign colleagues to his lab. He also published well over 100 scientific papers. He and Pat, with their children enjoyed three sabbatical leaves – two to Germany and one to Sweden and Denmark in addition to attending many international meetings and traveling extensively. He maintained a close relationship to friends in Germany throughout the years. He received several awards for his research including ones from the Guggenheim Foundation and the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. He also loved the outdoors especially as a fly fisherman and crabbing in Yaquina Bay as well as grooming his yard. He is survived by his wife of 69 years Pat; son Bryan (Sherie), daughters Julie Janssen (Dean) and Diane Martin (Steve); seven grandchildren: Preston Bishop (Macy), Nicole Connaghan (Sean), Aaron Janssen, Danielle Summers (Brian), Tera Martin, Allie Martin and Marshall Carrier Bishop; and six great grandchildren, Max and Vivienne Bishop, Collin and Chase Connaghan, Kharma and Walker Summers. Two sons Craig (1953) and James (2003); two grandsons Marc (2001) and Jimmy (1997); and brother Loren (2017) preceded him in death. A private family service will be held at a later time. Any donations may be made to the Benton County 4-H, NAMI (National Alliance for the Mentally Ill) or a charity of your choice.

Tributes

Norman Ivan Bishop

June 29, 1928 - April 30, 2017