Dr. Norman Freed, retired Associate Dean of the Eberly College of Science and Professor of Physics at Pennsylvania State University, passed away suddenly on Feb 13. Norman is survived by his wife, Marian Trygve Freed; son and daughter-in-law, Eric and Janelle Freed, and their children Benjamin and Natasha; daughter-in-law Sallie Freed and her son Carter; sister Lyne Harmon and brother-in-law Robert Harmon, and their children. Norman was preceded in death by his son Jonathan.
Norman graduated from Antioch College in 1958, and received his PhD in 1963 from Case Western Reserve University. He was a postdoctoral fellow or visiting scientist at many universities and institutions in countries including Denmark, Finland, France, Sweden and the United States. He joined the physics faculty at Penn State in 1965, and was named Associate Dean for the Eberly College of Science in 1979. He was awarded fellowships from the Woodrow Wilson Atomic Energy Commission, National Science Foundation, Nordic Institute for Theoretical Physics, Ford Foundation, and the French Atomic Energy Commission. During his career he published over 65 scientific papers in physics and gave lectures in 23 countries.
Throughout his 46 years in the Eberly College of Science, Norman played a major role in many of the college's flagship programs. One of his proudest accomplishments was the creation of the Penn State Forensic Science Program in 2005. Another of Norman's innovations was a study-abroad program, which he began 25 years ago. Thanks to this program, Eberly College of Science students at Penn State now have a number of options via exchange relationships with seven British universities; the University of Marburg, Germany; the University of Strasbourg, France; the National University of Singapore; and Wellington University in New Zealand. Norman was also instrumental in developing many other initiatives in the college, including the Academic Advising Center, the Cooperative Education Program, the Penn State Post-Baccalaureate Premedical Certificate Program, and he was a key player in developing and promoting Penn State's online-education program and other outreach initiatives.
In addition to his productive career at Penn State University, Norman was an ardent supporter of the arts. He was a member of the Board of Trustees of Glimmerglass Opera near Cooperstown, N.Y.; member of the steering committee of the State College area Opera Buffs; and generous patron of the Shakespeare Theatre Company of Washington, D.C.
Above all, Norman was devoted to his family. He particularly enjoyed following the diverse exploits and notable achievements of his grandchildren, hiking with his beloved wife in the French Alps, and taking weekend jaunts in Washington, D.C. He will be long remembered not only for his many accomplishments, but also for his sense of humor, generosity, and eagerness to help family, friends, and colleagues.
Those wishing to join with us in celebrating Norman’s life may send donations to the Norman Freed Undergraduate Research Award at Penn State.
Condolences for the family can be posted at http://www.heintzelmanfuneralhome.com/
A private memorial service will be held at a later date.