Dr. R. Norman Johnson

Dr. R. Norman “Norm” Johnson, of Norwich, NY, passed away at UHS Chenango Memorial Hospital on Saturday, January 17, 2026, surrounded by family.

Born on December 3, 1937, in Jamestown, NY, Norm was a son of the late Rudolph and Jeanette (Peterson) Johansson. He graduated from high school in Jamestown, earned his associates degree from Jamestown Community College, and then received both his bachelor’s degree and PhD from the University of Buffalo. Norm began his career in chemistry as an intern at Dupont, followed by employment with Starks Associates.

In 1967, Norm took a position with the former Norwich Pharmacal Company in Norwich, NY and worked as a medicinal chemist until his retirement with Procter and Gamble Pharmaceuticals. Norm has several U.S. and foreign patents through both Norwich Pharmacal and Procter & Gamble. In retirement, Norm taught chemistry to nursing students at SUNY Oneonta and was a former member of the American Chemical Society. He was a voracious reader and always curious about medicines, treatments and inventions. Norm enjoyed gardening, traveling and spending time with family and friends for the holidays. He was a quiet individual but had a great sense of humor and loved a bargain.

On July 22, 1967, Norm married Patricia Ostrzynski, who predeceased him on October 20, 2022.

Norm is survived by his children, Deborah (Eli) Crossman, of Sandy Hook, CT, Christopher (Amy Klein) Johnson, of Baltimore, MD, and Pamela (Neil) Napolitano, of Boxborough, MA; and grandchildren, Grant and Alexander Crossman, Magdalena and Bryn Johnson and Ethan and Evelyn Napolitano. He was predeceased by his brother, Burton Johnson.

A funeral service will be held at the Wilson Funeral Home, in Norwich, on Saturday, January 31, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. Burial will occur at St. Paul’s Cemetery in the spring of 2026.

Memorial contributions in memory of Norm may be made to the Guernsey Memorial Library, 3 Court Street, Norwich, NY 13815.

Funeral arrangements were entrusted with the Wilson Funeral Home.