Norm Fairhurst grew up in Fall River, MA, played stickball on 6th street, pool at the Corky Row Club, and read whatever books he could get his hands on. When the Korean War broke out, the 17-year-old joined the Navy, later taking advantage of the GI Bill, and the kid from the tenement became the engineer with a transcript (Let's Go, Durfee!) who then was able to achieve a Masters degree from Catholic U. At the Applied Physics Lab he met Sandra Sullivan and the two married and moved to Northern California where they met their lifelong best friends and added a son and daughter to the family. Norm and Sandy, along with toddler Scott and baby Laurie, moved back to the East Coast in the late 60s to the new town of Columbia, Maryland where he and Sandy stayed the remainder of their lives. Norm played, coached, reffed, and organized soccer in Columbia in the 1970’s, even playing a role in the start of the Memorial Day Tournament. The family vacationed to the beach and Norm and Sandy travelled internationally. In the 1980s and 90s, he traded his soccer cleats for a kayak paddle, playing an organizing role for trips to rivers near and far as well as writing for the newsletter of the Baltimore Canoe Club. Norm was an incredible neighbor on Hermit Path, a helper and friend to many, while also supporting, teaching playing with, and cheering for his three granddaughters Kate, Marne, and Erin. In 2021 he lost Sandy to cancer, a loss that he felt every day of his final two years. When his oldest granddaughter, Kate, became a mother in May, the word “great” went from adjective to title as “Poppy” became great grandfather to Fitz. Norm died 8/17/2023, one week after his 90th birthday.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.witzkefuneralhomes.com for the Fairhurst family.
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