Continued: Pediatric allergist Norman Sterrie was WWII hero

Dr. Norman Sterrie, a pediatrician and allergist, worked alongside colleagues for several decades who didn't know the heroic role he played as a Navy torpedo bomber pilot in the air battles over the Pacific Ocean during World War II.

Sterrie, who served as chairman of the board for what is now the Park Nicollet Clinic in St. Louis Park, died Dec. 31 at his home in St. Louis Park, after suffering a fall in November. He was 91.

He was a three-time recipient of the Navy Cross -- only the congressional Medal of Honor is higher -- for his bravery in combat.

It took Al Zdon, who is writing a book about him, several years to persuade Sterrie to tell about his wartime experience.

"It's an incredible honor for a guy to get a Navy Cross. To get three of them is almost unheard of," said Zdon.

Sterrie flew in many historic battles of the Pacific, such as the Battle of the Coral Sea and the Battle of the Philippine Sea.

"He was very genuinely modest," said Zdon. "He just had a dry sense of humor that would knock your socks off."

One of his Navy Crosses was awarded for his role in the Battle of the Coral Sea. He had already dropped his torpedo in an attack against an enemy aircraft carrier, but went in again with the commander of his squadron, who still had a torpedo, to draw fire away from his skipper.

He returned safely to his carrier, the USS Lexington, but soon had to dive into the water for rescue, because the ship was mortally damaged.

The St. James High School and Carleton College graduate enrolled in the University of Minnesota School of Medicine after the war, graduating in 1949. He later became a pediatric allergist, and by 1953 was on the staff of the former St. Louis Park Medical Center.

"He had a very large following of devoted patients over the years," said Dr. Loren Vorlicky of Edina, a retired pediatric oncologist.

During the 1960s, he was chairman of the building committee, responsible for expanding the clinic. From 1970 to 1975, he was the physician-leader of the clinic.

"He had a vision, and had the ability to knit different factions together," said Elaine Anderson Weber, a former staffer of the clinic's research foundation.

He retired in 1980, and until recent years, lived near Lake Harriet, enjoying canoeing and biking. He played at least a half a dozen musical instruments and was a member of several bands. In the 1980s, he took up the cello and studied calculus.

"He constantly wanted to learn," said his granddaughter, Cara Mearns-Thompson of St. Louis Park.

His wife, Betsy, died in 1998. He is survived by a daughter, Margaret Mearns of Hopkins; a son, George Sterrie of Minneapolis; a sister, Eloise Cadman of Claremont, Calif.; two granddaughters and four great-grandchildren.

Services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1200 Marquette Av., Minneapolis.

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