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From:
dayle ahrens
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Monday, February 12, 2018
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Technically, Norman was my twin Gayle's and my cousin. Emotionally, he was our older brother, whose sales career didn't start on a farm, but on his 4am bike route through Hudson Falls, delivering papers. In those high school years he even worked evenings and Saturdays, in Heil's Shoe Store, the hub of gossip and commerce across from the park in downton H.F. 15-18 year old Norm was respected by these small town businessmen for his hussle and go-getem attitude. While Gayle and I loved him because he'd let us girls, including his sister MaryAnn play backyard football on Notre Dame street with the guys, or play war games in
the belly of Hudson Falls High School when it was being built behind our make-shift football field in that backyard.
Recently I found a two page letter Norm wrote me to congratulate me for being valedictorian of my 1961 HF class and to encourage me to achieve further success in college. Here was this college sophomore, only 19 at the time, having the sensitivity to make time on his busy calendar to show he cared. Amazing! (I will bring this letter to our celebration of his life in June.)
What I wish I could actually bring is a video of Norm's tribute for my late husband Roger, a fellow Norwich graduate, at the Queensbury Hotel after Roger's funeral. He had me and our 85 guests rocking with laughter...oh, the stories he told...Rog would have loved how he turned a sad occasion into joy, a miracle man. In fact, the week prior, Roger's death day, Norm was with me and my two sisters and children entertaining us in that hospice room at Glens Falls Hospital for three hours that afternoon, then leaned down to whisper a goodbye to unconscious Rog--20 minutes later, Rog took his last breath.
So, guys, your dad, ex husband, brother , cousin, and friend has impacted my life for decades in many intimates ways. I shall remember him each day of my life knowing that Aunt Marge and Uncle George and my parents Eunice and Len have welcomed him home to heaven, and his buddies, Rog and Jim are once again sharing stories.
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