Norm was the loving father of six children and is survived by three children-Christopher Kimberly, and Lisa. His other three children-Keith, Michael, and Kevin-preceded him in passing. He is survived by four grandchild-Christina, Luke, Madison, and David. While serving in the Korean War in the Army, he was stationed in Alaska in the Intelligence Division. Norm hitchhiked from Alaska to Detroit, Michigan-never paying for a single meal. During a stop in Kansas City, Missouri, he and his friend, Bill McCann, met President Harry Truman (and his secret service) in an elevator. President Truman shook their hands and greeted them with a line that Norm would never forget. “Are we treating you boys good?”
Before founding Eastern Metal Moldings and working in the aluminum business in Detroit, he owned three small planes, homes in Birmingham and Rochester, Michigan and a lake house on Higgins Lake. As a business man and entrepreneur; he enjoyed lifelong friendships with various business partners. As a sportsman and adventurer, he had three hole-in-ones to his name. In pursuit of sailing the world’s fastest sailboat, he crewed on the Slingshot and was also Chase One for cross-country Hot Air Balloons Guinness Book of World Records attempts.
After vacationing in Captiva and Sanibel in the 1970’s, he purchased land and eventually moved his six children there. As a partial retiree, he decided to open up a surf shop on Fort Myers Beach, West Coast Surf Shop. Within the next decade, he would open a total of five locations and create an iconic t-shirt brand as well. After purchasing an empty lot across from the Lani Kai, a new business-Norm’s Beach Parking- was born, and is still run by his surviving family over three decades later.
His wife, Bev, was married to him for over 50 years before preceding him in passing. Norm had a caring heart and always opened his home to friends and family-all the old timers on Fort Myers Beach have a story to share.
A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM on Friday, April 20, 2018, at St. Columbkille Catholic Church, 12171 Iona Rd., Fort Myers, FL 33908. A Celebration of Life will immediately follow the service at: 950 San Carlos Dr., Fort Myers Beach, FL.
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