David and Norma: a longtime friendship and a legacy gift

“What’s this room?” asked David Hook as he wheeled his dear friend, Norma Schwarz, through the halls of the new patient tower that opened last December at Children’s Medical Center Plano, stopping at the second patient room.   

Uncertain why they were parked here on their tour of the new tower, Norma looked up at the room number, spotting the plaque just above.  

She covered her eyes and silently cried tears of joy as David hugged her.  

“Now you’ve got a room in the hospital, forever,” David said, as he knelt next to her, motioning up to the plaque that featured Norma’s name.  

A longtime supporter of Children’s Health, David’s foundation made a gift to support construction of the 400,000-square-foot tower that expanded access to specialty care for families north of Dallas. In honor of his friendship with Norma, he made a second gift to recognize her, naming the patient room next door.   

“Congratulations, you deserve it!” David said.  

“I never in this world… I’m so glad that I know you,” Norma said through tears. 

“If anyone in this town deserves to be recognized, it’s you,” David said. “With all the charity work that you have done and started, it was about time someone gave you some recognition.” 

For nearly four decades, David and Norma have been best friends.  

In 1988, David moved to Dallas from Silicon Valley and met Norma through The Roommate Registry, a roommate placement service she owned at the time. Not long after, David hired Norma as a part-time executive assistant at his private equity firm and later made her a full-time employee.  

Not only was she a hardworking member of his staff, but Norma’s friendship with David grew. Her family adopted David as one of their own, even taking him along on multiple family trips to Disney World, for example. Norma became a second mother to David, as well as a trusted mentor and beloved friend. He would seek her guidance regarding important business decisions.  

“She wasn’t just my assistant; she was my partner in the business. With Norma, there was never a gray area, it was either right or wrong, honest or dishonest, good or bad. She had a great moral compass,” David said. 

Norma, now 91 years old, has spent decades selflessly serving others. She grew up in Inman, Kan., a small Mennonite town where her father was mayor. At age 12, she began teaching Sunday school in the basement of her church. As a teenager, Norma ran the town drugstore. 

“I learned that everybody is responsible for everybody else,” Norma said.   

In her adult years, Norma helped start the Stewpot, a mission with the First Presbyterian Church of Dallas, as well as the Interfaith Housing Coalition, helping families in poverty. For a decade, she participated in a prison ministry, driving to Huntsville once a month to visit prisoners.  

“When the Lord calls you to do something, if you know you can do it, you better do it,” Norma said.  

Now, Norma’s legacy will live on through the halls of Children’s Medical Center Plano. A place of hope and healing for North Texas children now and for generations to come.