Norman was born in Leominster, MA on August 16, 1924 to Ceceilia (Martel) Normandin and Elmer E. Normandin Sr.
He attended the Northbridge, MA school system from first grade until he graduated in June 1942. As a freshman, Norm was a trombone player in the schools marching band. He also was a discus distance thrower on the Track and Field team and played on his high school football team until an injury sidelined him.
In 1941 while still in school, Norm could be found working as a part-time stockroom clerk at Whiting Machine Works in Whitinsville, MA. He eventually became a full-time employee as a small tool set-up man.
On June 06, 1942, Norm married his sweetheart, Dorothy McNeil of Grafton. They met and fell in love dancing to all the big band music of their day. It was a marriage that would last 56 years until Dorothy’s passing on November 07, 1998.
On May 27, 1943, Norm and Dot welcomed a son, Neil Kenneth, into their family. It was shortly after Neil’s birth Norm became employed in the maintenance department at Wuskanut Mills in Farnumsville, MA. This job was short-lived though since Norm entered service with the U.S. Army and was duly sworn in on August 23, 1943.
Norman graduated Army basic training at Fort MaLellan Alabama and was immediately transferred to Fort Mead Maryland for advanced infantry training where upon completion was promoted to the rank of Corporal. In June 1944, Corporal Normandin and his unit were deployed to England and assigned to the Eisenhower Headquarters. Shortly thereafter Norman received orders and was assigned to the 3 rd Army, 11 th Armored Division- also known as The Thunderbolts. His unit was then transferred to France and on December 22, 1944 Norman found himself in the middle of one of our country’s major confrontations, the Battle of the Bulge. A march across France through Ardennes-Alsace into Rhineland followed where Norman’s unit joined the Battle of Central Europe under the command of General George Paton. On May 08, 1945, the unit rolled into East Austria and took part in the Army of Occupation and plated a major role in the liberation of the concentration camps Gusen and Mauthausen – two of Germany’s best kept secret death camps located in Northern Austria. It was during this time Norman was promoted to the rank of temporary Sergeant and Squad Leader several times.
In July 1945 Norman was transferred to Camp Herbert Tarrington to begin preparation for his return to the United States later that month. After his return to Camp Edwards MA, he was discharged with honors. During Norman’s Army time he was awarded the Purple Heart for injuries received while in Austria as well as the Combat Infantry Badge and Bronze Star for meritorious achievement in ground combat against the armed enemy during World War II in the European-African Middle Eastern Theater of Operations.
Upon return to civilian life, Norman regained employment at Wuskanut Mills as a weaver room wire boy. During his off-hours, he worked as an apprentice steam fitter with Jim McGraw Plumbing and Heating.
On January 02, 1949 Dorothy and Norman welcomed a second son, Grant Douglas. In 1950 Norman had completed his pipe fitter apprenticeship and gained employment at Whiting Machine Works at a pipe fitter, where he remained until moving to the Wyman-Gordon Company in the Grafton MA plant in 1954 where he retired from as Foreman in 1986.
From 1954 through 1961, Norm served as a Scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop #143 in Sutton MA. Both sons went through the ranks with eldest son Neil reaching the level of Life Scout. Norman regularly used earned vacation time each year to take the troop members to summer c amp at Treasure Valley.
From 1954 through 1988 Norm and Dot were avid boaters and in 1958 joined the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. Norm retired from the Auxiliary in 1989 after achieving numerous ranks and finally serving as Commodore of the First Coast Guard District.
After retiring in 1986, Norm and Dot bought a place in Zellwood Station, Zellwood, Florida. Initially, summers were spent aboard their much-loved yacht Shalamar, at Wickford Cove Marina in Wickford, RI. After several years they permanently made Zellwood their year-round home.
While living at Zellwood Station, Norman served on the Park Purchasing Committee and assisted in the successful purchase of the Zellwood Station Park. He also served on Zellwood Stations Board of Directors for eight years and volunteered as a liaison for the Water and Sewer Department. In 1987 Norman joined the Zellwood Red Caps, an organization dedicated to the needs of others where he eventually became President. After serving his term, he remained an active member donating innumerable hours to serve others. From 1995-2003 Norman served on the Board of Directors of the Florida Hospital Foundation and headed many fundraising committees for the benefit of Florida Hospital. He also served as Florida Hospital Marshall where he sponsored many fundraising events for the benefits of several organizations throughout the State of Florida.
In April of 2000, Norman married Elaine (Rosch) Ellison, a long-time family friend and resident of Zellwood Station. Together they enjoyed golf, traveling and visiting family in New Hampshire, Wisconsin, South Carolina and New York. Elaine passed away on August 03, 2013.
Members of Norman’s family include one brother, Elmer (Sam) Normandin Jr. (deceased) of Blackstone, MA, and sister Marin Larson (deceased) of Morgan, VT and Sarah (Tootie) Devlin (deceased) of Whitinsville, MA. He leaves behind two sisters, Deborah Stockwell of Phippsburg, ME and Suellen Amidon of Northbridge, MA as well as his two sons Neil Kenneth and wife Beverly of Franklin, WI and Grant Douglas and wife Mary of Merrimack, NH. He has 6 grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren and 7 great-great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.