Robert Nance
Robbie, along with two brothers and three sisters, was born and raised in Darlington, SC by his Mom and Dad in a Christian home. He married his wife in 1965 and made their home in Raleigh, NC where they reared a son and daughter. Robbie was a high school vocation teacher and taught drafting for about 25 years. He was a Christian and devoted to the Lord. He was a good friend and respected by all who knew him. He loved spending time with friends and family. He loved to laugh.
After receiving the gift of a donor heart in 1992, he became a donor himself and did volunteer work with Carolina Donor Services. Due to coronary artery transplant disease, he received a second donor heart in 1999. Because others gave so unselfishly, not once but twice, Robbie was able to be a witness to many, enjoy family, friends, and see his children, nieces, and nephews graduate from college, marry, and have children of their own. He was able to hold those little great nieces and a nephew for the first few moments of their life. He was able to share, not only verbally, but by example, the precious gift of life.
So you see, it was not a difficult decision for him or his family to give the gift of sight to others. He wanted others to have second chances, too.
Robert Noga
Bob Noga, a warm, loving man, who in his short life touched so many people’s lives. He could walk into a room of strangers and leave with a room of friends. A loving husband, son, and brother with a heart of gold and a giving soul. He believed in working hard and enjoyed taking care of his family. There will never be another like Bob Noga. It is an honor to be one of many people who will continue to keep this wonderful human being’s memory alive and pass it on through the many generations to come.
William Henry Norman
My name is Deborah Norman and I would like to thank the North Carolina Eye Bank for the opportunity to talk about my father. My father, Mr. William Henry Norman, was my hero, he was my everything. My father and I have always been very close - aside from being father and daughter he was my friend. He was the type of man who touched the lives of everyone he came in contact with. I remember when I was a little girl he always treated me like I was first priority, besides my mother. He treated me like that up until his death. My brother always teased me about being Daddy’s little girl and we would always laugh about it, but I knew it was true. My family consisted of my mother and father and my brother and me. I always knew my father to take care of us and never deprive us of anything we wanted or needed. He was so caring of us that my brother and I always called him my daddy – we wanted everyone to know that he was just that. We did that up until his death.
My mother passed away 15 years ago and when she was sick my father started taking care of her from the first day of her sickness until the day she died. That was just the kind of person he was. He was well known and loved in the community where the people called him HAPPY – that was the name he was called until his death. I could go on to say so much more about my father but I would be writing a book. I want people to know that my father was a man of GOD and donating his organs to someone in need shows you just what kind of person he was. I pray that whoever receives any part of him also receives that same spirit he had.
Larry Brian Norris
I Wish I Could Fly
I wish I could fly so high in the sky,
without a care in the world.
I wish I could fly so high from a careless world,
from this evil and heartless world.
Oh how I wish I could fly so high and carefree,
away from the providence this world has to offer,
away from the pain and anguish that has been
brought to this earth I call home.
Oh how I wish I could fly.
Larry Brian Norris
Marilyn Nugent
Thank you for the opportunity to write and tell you a little about my mother, Marilyn Nugent.
Mom lived a life that took her from Brooklyn, NY to Miami and Homestead, FL, and ended in High Point, NC. Her life always included taking care of other people. First was her family. My brother Ed, my sister Laura, and I were my mother’s pride and joy. Mom’s career at James Archer Smith Hospital, now Homestead Hospital, included patient care and administrative duties.
My mother’s biggest blessing is her 6 grandchildren: Tori, 13, Jack, 10, Victor, Jr., 9, Jake, 8, Katie, 7, and Meagan, 3. Marilyn was dedicated to organ donation and we are proud to know that her donation helped in the study of sight.
Mom was a loving, caring, intelligent person. Her favorite hobby was the Sunday crossword, and reading was something that she enjoyed her whole life. Reading was the one thing that she did the most of her life!
Mom’s donation assisted the continuing education in the medical field. Learning was important to my mother and she would be thrilled to know that she was able to help others to continue to learn. Mom would want everyone to become an organ donor, because it gives the gift of life.
