Norman Smith Thayer

Norman Smith Thayer, Jr. was born on May 30, 1933, in Jacksonville, Florida.

Norman passed away March 2, 2018. He was preceded in death by his father, Norman Smith Thayer; mother Nannie Mae Porter; and daughter, Tanya Noel Thayer. He is survived by his wife, Martha Ann Thayer; his son, Murray Norman Thayer; his daughter-in-law, Annette DiLorenzo Thayer; his sisters, Natalie Courtney Clark, Nancy Dolores Griggs; and many cherished nieces and nephews.

Norman attended Raton High School and won the state tennis singles championship in 1950. Norman graduated from UNM with a four-year letter award in tennis in 1954 and then went on active duty in the Navy. After completing three years in the Navy, Norman enrolled at UNM Law School and graduated in 1960. After graduating, Norman worked as an Assistant Attorney General from 1960 to 1961 and was the chief counsel of the New Mexico Bureau of Revenue from 1962 to 1964. He then joined the law firm of Sutin & Jones and worked principally for Lewis R. Sutin, who later became a judge on the New Mexico Court of Appeals. The firm was later renamed Sutin, Thayer & Browne, which grew from five lawyers in the summer of 1964 to one of the larger law firms in New Mexico. Norman was acknowledged as one of the finest trial lawyers to ever practice in New Mexico and was a tremendous mentor to numerous younger lawyers. Norman loved the legal profession and took a special interest in legal ethics. He served on the Disciplinary Board of NM, the Committee on Rules of Professional Conduct, the Code of Judicial Conduct Committee, the Board of Bar Commissioners, and the Board of Directors of the New Mexico Bar Foundation. He was President of the Trial Lawyer’s Association and in 2006 was awarded the Distinguished Bar Service Award from the State Bar. Norman also loved New Mexico and living in Albuquerque. He was chairman of the Huning Castle Park Trust, President of the Huning Castle Neighborhood Association, and served on the Board of Trustees of the Albuquerque Museum.

In lieu of flowers, Norman requested that donations be made to the New Mexico chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union or a charity of your choice. A Memorial Service celebrating his life will be held on his birthday Wednesday, May 30, 2018, 11:00 a.m. at FRENCH –Lomas.