Norman Stark

Norman Stark, 94, was born Feb. 25, 1920, in Cheyenne to Sam and Annie Stark. He died Feb. 2 in Sarasota, Fla. He graduated from Cheyenne High School and the University of Denver's Lamont School of Music. He served active duty in the U.S. Army from 1942-1946 and was discharged as a captain. After the war, he pursued a career as a pianist and vocalist in New York, recording with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra and Buddy Cole Trio under the Decca label. He later returned to Cheyenne as a co-owner of Sam Stark and Son's - an institution in Wyoming men's clothing, which his father began in 1909. He was involved in real estate development in Boulder, Colo., and Denver. He was active in the community and served as a director or officer of: American National Bank, DePaul Hospital, Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce, Menswear Retailers of America, Wyoming Council of the Arts, Cheyenne Symphony and Laramie County Council of the Arts. He was named Mountain States Retailer of the Year. Norman and his wife, Mary, retired to Sarasota in 1988 to be near his son, Dr. Doran Stark and wife Janice. He returned to Cheyenne to be with friends every summer. He was involved in computer learning and teaching, setting up his own and neighbor's networks. His best phone calls were to Apple support for hours at a time. He was never bored, and he brought great joy and love to all who knew him. Norman was predeceased by his wife, Mary, in 2005. He is survived by his son, Doran Stark and wife Janice of Lakeland, Fla.; and grandsons, Aaron at Stanford University in Stanford, Calif., and Austin at the University of Colorado in Boulder. A memorial service will be later this spring at Mount Sinai Synagogue, of which Norm was a lifelong member.