Norman Glenn Sansing

Norman Glenn Sansing was born at home in Woodstock, Alabama, on August 17, 1932 and died September 22, 2011. He was the only son of Archie Glenn Sansing and Magdalene Cook Sansing, and was predeceased by his parents and his only sibling, Carolyn Sansing Dortch.
Dr. Sansing graduated from Alabama Polytechnic Institute (Auburn University) in 1954 with a BS in Agricultural Science. He joined Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity, and also held membership in several organizations and honor societies, including Phi Kappa Phi, Phi Sigma, Gamma Sigma Delta, and Sigma Xi. He participated in Army ROTC at Auburn, which allowed him to finish his undergraduate degree and earn an ROTC commission. It was also at Auburn that he met his future wife, Anne Aycock, whom he married November 3, 1955. After completing Armored Officers Basic training, he joined the 10th Mountain Division's 87th Infantry Regiment, then stationed in Aschaffenburg, Germany, where he and Anne lived while he completed two years of active duty. Afterwards, he returned to Auburn and completed his MS in Botany, then accepted an assistantship at Iowa State University, where he received the PhD in Plant Physiology in 1962. He completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Biology Division of the Oak Ridge National Lab, and in 1964 went to The University of Georgia, where he would, very happily, spend the remainder of his career as faculty member, student advisor, and university administrator.
Between 1964 and his retirement in 1997, Dr. Sansing rose to the rank of Associate Professor in the UGA Department of Biochemistry and Associate Dean of the UGA College of Arts and Sciences. He served for many years as advisor to Premedical and Predental students at the University and as advisor to the Georgia Alpha chapter of the Alpha Epsilon Delta Premedical Honor Society. In 1992, Dr. Sansing was elected National President of the National Association of Advisors to the Health Professions, and served two terms. He organized and delivered a very successful Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) tutorial program to assist his students in preparing for entry to medical or dental school. He was honored to have played even a small part in the lives of so many distinguished physicians and dentists and was proud to call many of them friends. After his retirement, he delighted in hearing from former students and advisees and learning of their many accomplishments.
Dr. Sansing had many hobbies and interests, including history, geography, maps, foreign language study, reading, golf, and especially, travel; however, his enjoyment of these treasured pastimes was diminished in recent years by the onset of Alzheimer's disease. He spent his final days at St. Mary's Center for Alzheimer's and Dementia Care and, later, the Hospice House. The family would like to thank all the staff members there for their very kind and compassionate care.
Norman Sansing is survived by his wife of 55 years, Anne Aycock Sansing, and his three daughters: Joyce Anne Sansing (Ronald C. Smith) of Athens; Susan Sansing Bowers (Charlie) of Rock Hill, SC; and Beth Sansing Gray (John) of Roswell, GA. His grandchildren, from oldest to youngest, include Lauren Elaine Bowers, Jefferson Burnham Bowers, Lindsay Elizabeth Gray, and Cameron Jane Gray. He is also survived by two nephews, Robert Glenn (Dana) Dortch of Birmingham, AL and Stephen Leslie (Alice) Dortch of Fort Collins, CO.
In lieu of flowers, anyone desiring to honor Dr. Sansing's memory is asked to consider a charitable donation to the St. Mary's Foundation, specifying either the Alzheimer's and Dementia Care Unit or the Hospice House as the focused recipient. The address is St. Mary's Foundation, 1230 Baxter St., Athens, GA 30606.
Lord & Stephens Funeral Home, West Chapel, 1211 Jimmy Daniel Road, Bogart, GA has charge of arrangements. The family will hold visitation at the funeral home on Sunday, September 25 from 3 to 5 p.m., with a memorial service following on Monday, September 26 at 2:00 p.m., also at Lord and Stephens West.