March 3, 1936 – December 29, 2021
Norman M. Cole ’62 was born March 3, 1936, and passed away Dec. 29, 2021, at age 85.
He attended Pacific Union College and went on to graduate from Loma Linda University School of Medicine in 1962. He joined the U.S. Army under the Berry Plan in 1958, and after his surgical residency at Los Angeles County General served as a trauma surgeon in the Vietnam War.
Dr. Cole completed the Duke University plastic surgery residency training program, one of the first of its kind in the country. He then spent 29 years in private practice in Louisville, Kentucky. He also served as a clinical professor of plastic surgery at the University of Louisville.
Recognized as a pioneer in his field, Dr. Cole served presidential terms for the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, the Southeastern Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons, and the Aesthetic Surgery Education and Research Foundation. He also founded the National Endowment for Plastic Surgery.
Recognized in 2017 as an icon in the field of plastic surgery, Dr. Cole was consistently humble and gracious when receiving accolades. He described the true joy of his career was meeting and being inspired by incredibly talented people.
He retired in 2001, enjoying many happy years with family, boating, traveling, and writing.
He is survived by his children, Cheryl Cole White (Michael), Michelle Cole Dudley (Steven), Cameron Cole, Mark Cole (Colleen) and Palmer Cole (Jessica). He is also survived by several grandchildren.