Norman Tierney

Norman Edward Tierney, born September 13, 1923 in Houston, Texas, joined our Lord in heaven on October 28, 2018. His family moved to San Francisco, California where he went on to graduate from Lowell High School. Following high school, Norman enlisted in the United States Navy on December 15, 1942 and served during WWII in the Pacific Theater of Operations. During the War years as a radio operator specialist, he served throughout the Solomon, Marshall, Marina, and Aleutian Island battle campaigns. He also served with the Naval task force to liberate the Philippine Islands. In addition, Norman was part of the prisoner of war evacuation to hospital ships and volunteered to retrieve many prisoners of war on the island of Japan after all wartime operations ceased. He discharged from the Navy on January 24, 1946 in San Pedro, California. Following his service to his country, Norman entered Loyola University, Los Angeles, California from 1946-1948. At the end of his junior year, he entered the Jesuit Seminary in Los Gatos, California where he went on to study at Mount Saint Michael’s in Spokane, Washington through 1957. During his time, he earned his bachelor's degree in English from Loyola and a Masters degree in Philosophy from Gonzaga. Following graduation, he began his teaching tenure in 1958 for the Los Angeles School District until his retirement in 1989. Norman met his beloved wife of 51 years, Mary Tierney, (who precedes him in death-Sept. 20, 2009). Norman and Mary went on to have to have 8 children: Clark, Cronin, Logan, Mary, Zachary, Milissa, Rebecca, and Kieran (preceded in death), 22 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren.  Norman was an active parishioner of the Catholic Churches he attended: St. Rose of Lima in Simi Valley and St. Mary’s in Palmdale. He taught religious education, led prayer groups, and was an active member in the choir. Norman was a spiritual leader and prayer warrior to all who knew him. He enjoyed the great outdoors, traveling, and all sports-especially his beloved Los Angeles Dodgers!  Services to celebrate this great man: Visitation and Rosary at the Chapel of the Valley in Palmdale, California: 11:00-1:30 pm followed by the funeral mass at 2:00 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church In Palmdale, California. Burial and military honors will be held Tuesday, November 6, 11:00 am at Assumption Cemetery in Simi Valley, California.