Norine Alyce Hodgins Dougherty passed away suddenly on February 9, 2024 at her home at the age of 92. Mom passed away almost a year to the day when her husband, Ted, passed away on Valentine’s Day 2023. We suppose she wanted to spend Valentine’s Day 2024 with the love of her life. Norine was born on April 26, 1931 in Minneapolis, Minnesota to George Herbert and Bertha Emilie (Lucht) Hodgins.
Childhood
Norine lived in Minneapolis until she left to attend college at San Jose State College in California. She attended North High School in Minneapolis where she was a drum majorette for the band, and proud of it. She later taught twirling lessons to young girls. She loved to talk about the first house the family owned in Minneapolis, and how her grandfather helped build the house. She could recall many details of the house and neighborhood. Interestingly, she was delivered by Dr. Reuben Rosenwald, who later married her mother, Bertha.
Years with a Young Family
Norine was married to Bruce Bjornstad from 1951 to 1969. Their son Brad was born in Huron, South Dakota, where they had moved for Bruce’s work with the Rilco Division of Weyerhauser. Bruce’s job led them to move frequently as he was promoted. The next moved to Edgerton, Wisconsin, where their daughter Beth was born. Later moves included Glenwood, Minnesota; Taylorville, Illinois; St. Louis, Missouri; Papillion, Nebraska; and finally Tampa, Florida in 1966.
Norine was an avid bowler and golfer when she was younger. In Glenwood she rolled a 600 series, which was the women’s league record at that time. She was in the women’s golf league there as well. She loved to golf until years later when her knees bothered her, and she “loaned” her golf clubs to her granddaughter Katie. She was an outstanding cook, and was famous for her Swedish meatballs, a treat taken up by her granddaughter Kristin. Both her children and all her grandchildren love to cook as well, often using recipes from Norine including Christmas Spritz cookies that are an annual ritual even for her great grandchildren. Norine was also an excellent piano player though she mostly dabbled at it in later years. She loved playing duets with her kids and grandkids her whole life. Norine was also a real dog lover, having dogs in the family from her early childhood until she could no longer care for them.
She was a proud and loving mother. Following her divorce from Bruce, she began her professional career to provide for her kids. She started working for Sears, but later became a real estate salesperson and broker at Lamonte Shimberg, Tam-Bay Realty, and Coldwell Banker. She was extremely proud of later owning Gulf Coast Brokers Group with Ted, and continued to collect their mascot, pelicans. Real estate became a love and passion for her allowing her to provide beautiful homes for her family, and an education for her kids. She was very proud of all the accomplishments of her kids and grandkids who were able to excel and accomplish things she could not as a housewife and working mother.
Life with Ted
Norine was married to Ted Dougherty on March 2, 1974. Ted’s work for American Bailer allowed for the opportunity for Ted and Norine to travel to Japan where they learned to love Japanese food. They built a home on a canal just off the St. John’s River in Jacksonville. They loved being able to boat on the river and look onto the canal for the huge alligator that lived there. They would have to keep a close eye on their dogs Pixie and Sherlock to keep them from being a small meal for that gator. They eventually wanted to move back to Tampa to be closer to family and friends. In 1977 they found a wonderful home in Dana Shores on the water and promptly bought a Stamas motorboat called the Sazerac, and later a pontoon boat. Looking over the canal and boating on the Upper Tampa Bay was a source of joy for Norine and Ted. Their family and dogs Ginger and later Cody were frequent passengers.
Their travels to Europe, Japan, the Caribbean, and all over the US and Canada led to a love of fine wine and new food tastes. Travels were often with her kids Brad and Beth, or with close family friends from Glenwood or Tampa. Norine was proud of the fact that her career and Ted’s allowed them to go places they never could afford as young parents. The love of travel has been passed down to her kids, grandkids and great grandkids. One of Norine’s greatest joys in later years was to hear about and see pictures of the places her family visited when she was no longer able to travel. They attended the Tampa Bay Bucs, Rays, Lightning, Rowdies, Bandits and USF Bulls games.
After Ted passed away in February 2023, Norine lived on her own in an apartment where she passed away. Life was never the same without Ted by her side, though she loved getting together with the family for holidays, and trips to restaurants and the Aquarium. But mostly, she would take pride in her family. She always said that she was pretty good as a mom, “See what I started!”
Norine is survived by her son Brad (Kathy) Bjornstad, MD, daughter Beth (Dick) Walker, step-daughter Lisa Mendel, step-sons Michael (Kandy), Peter (Corinne) and James (Janeen) Dougherty, granddaughters Kristin Ripley, Katie (Vish) Amin, Kimmie (Danny) Wander, and Julie (Sebastian) Bjornstad, and many great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents, her brother Herb (Jeanette) Hodgins, and her husbands Bruce Bjornstad, and Charles “Ted” Dougherty. She will be interred at the National Cemetery in Bushnell with Ted on February 27, 2024.
A visitation for Norine will be held Tuesday, February 27, 2024 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Blount & Curry Funeral Home-Carrollwood Chapel, 3207 W Bearss Ave, Tampa, Florida 33618. A funeral service will occur Tuesday, February 27, 2024 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM, 3207 W Bearss Ave, Tampa, Florida 33618. A graveside service will occur Tuesday, February 27, 2024 from 1:00 PM to 1:30 PM at Florida National Cemetery, 6502 S. W. 102nd Ave, Bushnell, Florida 33513.
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