Norman Zmora's Obituary
With loving fondness, we sadly announce the passing of our beloved husband and brother, “King” Norman Zmora. Norman, 86, died peacefully on October 4, 2021, in the devoted care of the teams at Lilly’s Villa II in La Jolla, CA and Sonata Hospice. Norm was born in Brooklyn, NY, on July 7, 1935, the oldest child of Joseph and Bertha (Sank) Zmora. He grew up in Brooklyn, making lifelong friends and proudly rooting for the Brooklyn Dodgers. Norman moved to Poway, California in 1959 to live on his uncle’s sheep ranch… a far cry from Brooklyn.
Norman adopted sunny San Diego as his home and loved to tell everyone else that there was nowhere as wonderful as his “Paradise.” Norman married Jane Jones of Hutchinson, Kansas in 1969. Their deep love lasted until his final days. Norman was a savvy businessman, first in the printing business and then in real estate, an occupation where his personal warmth combined with negotiating skills brought him success and joy. For many, Norman filled the bill of “most unforgettable character.” He made friends easily and loved staying close with family and friends, surprising all with a call on birthdays and anniversaries. He was dubbed unofficial mayor of the La Jolla YMCA, where he spent almost as much time schmoozing as working out. He was quick to help whenever and wherever he could, and enjoyed making Meals on Wheels rounds for years.
Norman is survived by his beloved wife of 52 years, Jane (Jones) Zmora; younger sister Charlotte Fahn and her husband, Stanley Fahn, and youngest sister Marion Cushner; and nieces and nephews Stan and Kathleen Jones, Shelly and Bernie Grisaffi, Paul and Maggie Fahn, Jim and Ping Fahn, Krista and Christopher Pierce, Troy and Leigh Kriley, Jason Cushner and Sarah Bertucci, Stefani and Kyle Hartsfield; and many loving great nieces and nephews.
A service will be held in Norman’s memory at Greenwood Memorial Park on Sunday, October 10th at 10:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the United Jewish Federation of San Diego: https://www.jewishinsandiego.org/, or to the Parkinson's Foundation: https://www.parkinson.org/.
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