Norman Louis Gelfand

Austin, Texas – Norman Louis Gelfand, 86 of Austin, Texas passed away Monday, May 27, 2024, in Austin,Texas. He was born October 19, 1937 in Brooklyn, New York to George Gelfand and Lillian (Tobye) Kaplowitz Gelfand Gorlick. He married Pamela Peterson on November 14, 1998 and they spent 25 wonderful years together. He became a Bar Mitzvah at Temple Adath in Syracuse and was a past member of Congregation Agudas Achim in Austin.

Norman attended school in Brooklyn and Syracuse, New York. He graduated from Syracuse University in 1959 with a BA in Business. He was always a salesman at heart, whether at a textbook publishing company or a special industrial coatings company. Norman achieved national acclaim in sales from two national coatings companies for innovations and hard work. In 1967, he became a business owner selling and installing specialized industrial coatings in airport hangars, food factories (Hershey’s) and large-scale computer component factories (IBM) with offices in Syracuse and Houston.

In 1988, he embarked on a new career in commercial real estate in the Austin area. His wife began working with him as an agent in 2005 focusing in healthcare real estate. They specialized in the dental real estate industry and he became a master at lease negotiations.

He served on the board of the Capital Area Dental Foundation, sponsored meetings for Capital Area Dental Society, and was a Certified Commercial Investment Member. He was an avid reader of novels, self-help books, and a host of gun magazines. He was an accomplished Toastmaster and contributed to the organization for over 20 years in various leadership roles. He also became a Shriner in the 1970’s while in Syracuse.

Norman gave 150% of his huge heart to his passions: his wife, his business, his love of shooting targets, collecting firearms, and being at home or in the pool. He truly had a huge heart of gold that was always willing to do more and lend an extra hand for family, friends, or even strangers in need of help.

He is survived by the love of his life: his wife, Pamela; his daughter, Anne Weiss of Seattle; his son, Sam Lawrence of Kyoto, Japan; and former son-in-law, Jeremy Weiss, DO of Seattle. He leaves behind 5 grandchildren: Emerson Weiss, Talia Weiss, Mason Lawrence, Daniel Lawrence, and Gray Lawrence, as well as a host of friends – he never met a stranger and always had a happy face and outlook on life. He was preceded in death by his mother, Tobye Gorlick and his loving step-father, Louis Gorlick. Pallbearers honoring Norman are Terry Belt, Bob Hemphill, Darren Larson, Scott Taylor, Tommy Wald, Marshall Warren DDS, Jeremy Weiss, DO, and David Wishnew, MD. A visitation will be held Monday, June 3, 2024 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Cook-Walden Funeral Home, 6100 North Lamar, Austin, TX 78752. Funeral Services led by Ron Mullen and Dr. Jeremy Weiss will occur Tuesday, June 4, 2024 at 12:00PM at Cook Walden Funeral Home.

Arrangements are under the direction of Cook Walden Funeral Home, 6100 North Lamar, Austin, TX.

Online condolences: www.cookwalden.com

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to MD Anderson Cancer Center online at gifts.mdanderson.org or University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center P. O. Box 4486, Houston, TX 77320-4486.