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Obituary

Dr. Norton, who expanded Mease Hospital, dies at 87

By Tamara El-Khoury
Published January 11, 2007

DUNEDIN - Dr. James O. Norton, who oversaw the expansion of Mease Hospital and also served as county medical examiner, died Wednesday Jan. 10, 2007 at his home at Mease Assisted Living. He was 87.

Dr. Norton served as the chairman of the board of trustees for Mease Hospital from 1967 to 1987. He also was chairman of the board for Mease Manor, a retirement community in Dunedin, from 1967 to 1992.

He is remembered as a quiet man who preferred to make things happen behind the scenes.

"He just wasn't a guy that grandstanded," said his friend, Gus Cooper. "He didn't care who got the credit, just get it done."

Dr. Norton, who was born in a small town in Iowa, served in the Marine Corps during World War II. He married Nancy Mease in 1945, and came to Dunedin in 1951 to start his family medicine practice at Mease Hospital, which was founded by his father-in-law, Dr. John A. Mease.

Before he retired from practicing medicine in 1988, Dr. Norton served as the Pinellas County medical examiner from 1955 until 1973.

He was also the physician for Dunedin High School's football team from 1962 until 1970.

Mostly, Dr. Norton is known for his role in expanding Mease Hospital.

"He's almost solely responsible for what Mease Hospital is today," said Gilbert Levy, who served with Dr. Norton on the board of Mease Hospital as vice chairman for more than 25 years.

Levy describes Dr. Norton as "the most dedicated, loyal person I ever knew."

In 1969, Dr. Norton announced plans for a $27-million, 10-year expansion to serve the community, which was keeping all the hospital beds full.

In a 1969 story in the St. Petersburg Times, Dr. Norton said the hospital had to increase its facilities in order to meet its obligation to the community.

Dr. Norton was chairman of the board when Mease Countryside Clinic opened in 1978, and when Mease Countryside Hospital opened in 1986.

"He steered everything in that direction," said Levy, who said Dr. Norton wanted to serve the untouched patient population in the Countryside area.

"During his tenure as chairman of both boards, (Mease Dunedin and Mease Countryside) the Mease hospitals grew ultimately to provide northern Pinellas County with acute care hospital and outpatient facilities," said Philip K. Beauchamp, president and chief executive officer of Morton Plant Mease Health Care, in a prepared statement. "His quiet demeanor and visionary leadership are greatly missed."

Dr. Norton is survived by his sons, Jim and Jack, six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. His daughter, Shug, died in 2001, and his wife Nancy, died in 2004.

Visitation will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at Moss Feaster Funeral Home, 1320 Main St., Dunedin. Services are scheduled for 10 a.m. Monday at Moss Feaster chapel, with burial to follow at Dunedin Cemetery, 2400 Keene Road.

Tamara El-Khoury can be reached at (727) 445-4181 or tel-khoury@sptimes.com.

[Last modified January 11, 2007, 07:18:33]