Norm was born and raised in Schenectady, NY. The family spent long summers on the shores of Lake Champlain at Corlear Bay Club, where by age 18 he reached 30 of 46 Adirondack high peaks without fanfare. Norm's undeniable quest for knowledge led him to Cornell University and then Harvard Business School.
Shortly after moving to NYC to work for Citibank, he met his beloved wife, Nancy, at a house party. Their connection was immediate, and they have remained inseparable for nearly 58 years. They settled in Wilton, Connecticut to raise their family where Norm's career path took an adventurous turn, leading him to the travel industry.
He thrived as Senior VP of Lindblad Travel and later Business Group Director for the QE2 cruise ship for Cunard Lines. These roles gave Norm and Nancy, and three children too, the luxury of global experiences by land and sea. Norm was an incredibly devoted father involved in coaching the kids teams and all family events.
An excellent storyteller, he loved telling bedtime stories made magical by his deep memorable voice. The family Fourth of July floats were epic and he thrived in battles of Yahtzee around the dining room table. Shifting gears with the children grown, Norm and Nancy pursued their shared love for the Adirondacks by making their summer haven a permanent residence in 1994.
For close to 15 years, they invested in and managed The Wawbeek on Upper Saranac Lake, welcoming guests to the beauty of the region. Norman delighted in sharing his love of geography and incredible regional knowledge with ever endearing humor giving pontoon boat tours, recommending scenic trails or a fine bottle of red to guests. During this time, Norm also shared his expertise as a professor of Hotel and Restaurant Management at SUNY Plattsburgh.
While his physical presence alone could command attention, it was Norm's actions, amicable wit, and intellect that made people look up to him. He had a warm competitive spirit, was an excellent dancer, and excelled at skiing, tennis and sailing. He loved to entertain and organize fun events for all ages including Corlear Bay's Beach Games, charades and capture the flag.
He was selfless and approached life with a humble confidence and an inquisitive enthusiasm. An excellent listener and conversationalist, he was well known for his genuine, deep interest in the world around him, frequently leaving you with something to ponder. In recent years, Norm's quest for knowledge didn't falter: poring over the Wall Street Journal daily for market news and the changing world.
He was also quite content, keeping the birdfeeder full, cheering for the Giants or Cardinals, playing cards with his grands and otherwise cherishing every moment at home or on a CATS trail with Nancy and their dog, Sachem in Westport NY. Norman is survived by his wife, Nancy Seward Howard, sister Ruth Howard Pollinger, three children, Amanda (Avi), Holli and Ash (Julie) and five grandchildren Solomon, Eliana, Fischer, Lucy and Bodhi with many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by two of his sisters, Gail and Jennifer.
He will be sorely missed by all who knew him. Sweet Dreams Happy Dreams Pleasant Dreams A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, September 28th at 2 p.m.
at Heritage House, 6459 Main Street, Westport, NY followed by a reception at the Howard's home. Services were entrusted to Heidrick Funeral Home, 7521 Court St., PO Box 188, Elizabethtown, NY, 12932.
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