Minoru Norman Hayashi

Jun 5, 1946 -

Oct 18, 2024

A Life Well Lived

Minoru Norman Hayashi was born on June 5, 1946, in Los Angeles, Calif. The youngest of nine children, Norman was always active along with his eight siblings and his two best friends, playing baseball or attending a game with his mom at Dodger Stadium.

He graduated from UCLA, joined the Air Force, served in Japan, discharged from McConnell Air Force Base, Kan. Norm returned to Los Angeles to pursue the life of a bachelor working for the National Labor Relations Board. As a Hearing Officer for the NLRB during a "case" he met Peggy Hayashi, RN, St. Francis Medical Center, Emergency Department.

Married, he and Peggy, along with two daughters, transferred to the Seattle, Wash., NLRB office. Four years later Norm and family, along with five sled dogs and a beagle, moved to Alaska as Resident Officer for the NLRB. Their son was born shortly after in Anchorage, Alaska.

Norman was an avid golfer, dog musher, fisherman and baseball fan. Wherever he went he left a room full of smiles, always cracking jokes and telling stories to anyone listening or not.

He was always ready to help someone when needed to and offered life advice. To many he was known as an animal whisperer, as every pet he encountered loved his calming ways.

When winter turned to spring Norm turned quickly to golf with friends at Palmer Golf Course. As age took on new meaning, his dog mushing passion transferred to golfing at Norm and Peggy's place on Kauai, Hawaii, next to, of course, a golf course.

He is lived on by his wife, Peggy; three children, Debbie (Erik) Stearns, Kathie (Ed Wood) Barnhart and Yoshio (Mira) Hayashi; and seven grandchildren, Ian, Aidan, Anna, and Jack Stearns, Mackenzie and Zackrey Barnhart and Milo Hayashi.

Hayashi family members - the oldest being 96 years old - from the East Coast and California flew to Anchorage to be with him in his final days. He was surrounded with love by family in his last days.

Norm, his doctors and their health care team from Seattle to Anchorage tenaciously fought a yearlong battle with an aggressive cancer.

He is loved by many and will be dearly missed.

Join us in celebrating Norman's life by visiting normhayashi.com. Share your favorite memories, experiences and anecdotes that highlight the positive influence he had on all of us. Let's honor his legacy together and keep his spirit alive through the stories we share. Your contributions mean so much!