NORMAN WILSON GETSINGER
Norman “Norm” Getsinger was 93 years of age when he passed away at his home “Guan Shan” in Flint Hill, Virginia, on June 22, 2012, following a stroke and medical complications. His wife Jo-an of nearly 20 years and his son Ralph were with him when he passed.
Norman was a student for life. He went to Prep School, Cranbook, in Bloomfield Hills, MI, and graduated from Harvard University in 1941 with a degree in American History and Literature. Norman joined the Navy immediately following Pearl Harbor in 1941 and took great joy in telling his family of serving on a refurbished yacht searching for German submarines off the Atlantic Coast. Mid-Career he attended the Naval War College. His education continued at George Washington University in 1963 and was awarded an AM in International Affairs. Later on he continued pursuit of education by receiving a Graduate Certificate in International Studies when he was well into his 80´s. He was working on another Certificate when he was struck down by a stroke while on Block Island off the Rhode Island coast in August 2011.
Norman was born on May 9, 1919 in Detroit, Michigan. He traveled the world and settled in the Washington DC area after retirement. In 1945 he served in Occupation of Japan and following discharge from the Navy, he took a position with UNRRA in China and in 1949 he became a career Foreign Service Officer and had postings in Egypt (where he met and married Ann Stoyak, a Foreign Service secretary, deceased in 1987), Italy, Taiwan where he received intensive language training in Mandarin, Turkey, Korea and Hong Kong. In Washington, D.C. he was a Senior Watch Officer in the Operations Center, a China Desk Officer and served on White House Vietnam Operations Staff. He was in the Department of Commerce as a State Department Advisor, Foreign Commercial Operations. In the private sector Norman was the Director, Export Operations with the National Council for U.S.-China Trade and he was a Consultant with them still focusing on his passion of U.S.-China Trade. He and Ann had four sons, Carl (deceased in 2000), Ralph, Amissville, VA, Norman Jr., Charlotte, NC, and George of St. Augustine, FL. He married Jo-an Ricketson in 1992, who had a career background in the Foreign Service. They lived until his death in Flint Hill, VA.
An actor at heart, with a spry sense of humor and wit, he participated in many local RAAC Theatre productions, the last of which was in the role of “Scrooge” after he passed the age of 90. Norman was a man of many interests. His overriding passion, however, was China and U.S. relations especially with regard to Taiwan. He belonged to Trinity Episcopal Church, in Washington, VA, Brotherhood of St. Andrews, and was a member of the Lion´s Club. In addition to his wife and sons, he will be mourned and remembered by 9 grandchildren, sister Doris Kinney of Croton-on-Hudson, NY, nieces, nephews and a host of friends.
There will be a viewing on June 29 from 7 - 9 p.m. at Moser Funeral Home in Warrenton, VA, and services will be held at Trinity Episcopal Church in Washington, VA at 2 p.m. on June 30. Following inurnment at Woodville, VA Cemetery a reception for friends and family will be held at the family home at 2353 Jericho Road (Route 637) Flint Hill.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations may be made to Hospice of the Rapidan, Culpeper, VA or Trinity Episcopal Church, Washington, VA.
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