Brian
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Post by Brian on Dec 14, 2018 0:00:34 GMT -8
Norm and Pearl at their mutual birthday party in 2014.
Our dear friend Norm Anderson passed away Wednesday from stage four lung cancer, which was only recently diagnosed. I spoke with Pearl tonight, who said that Norm died peacefully at home, in no pain, with her and a hospice caregiver nearby.
Norm was admitted to the hospital for the first time last month, complaining of pain in his ribs. He was readmitted last week, then released on Tuesday to home hospice care. The doctors told Norm and Pearl that he had six months to live, but he was gone the next day.
I'm still dealing with the shock on top of my grief, as is Pearl, who spent virtually every minute of her life with Norm for many years. He seemed fine when we enjoyed dinner with him at Empty Bowls on November 3, but he didn't feel up to attending any vigils after that.
Pearl is coming to the Eagle Rock vigil on Saturday. We're going to plan a celebration sometime next week of Norm's life, spirit and activism for peace and justice, especially LGTBQ causes.
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Brian
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Post by Brian on Dec 17, 2018 0:00:26 GMT -8
Pearl is planning a celebration of Norm and his life on Tuesday, December 18, from 3:30 to 6 p.m., as part of her apartment building's holiday gathering in the community room at 915 E. Rio Grande Street in Pasadena, CA 91104. Several Montrose Peace Vigil and Eagle Rock vigil regulars are going to be there.
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Post by Jeanne on Dec 17, 2018 9:38:25 GMT -8
Pearl is planning a celebration of Norm and his life on Tuesday, December 18, from 3:30 to 6 p.m., as part of her apartment building's holiday gathering in the community room at 915 E. Rio Grande Street in Pasadena, CA 91104. Several Montrose Peace Vigil and Eagle Rock vigil regulars are going to be there. Pearl requested Where Have All the Flowers Gone. I'm going to bring a guitar and try my best for her and Norm. Bill, will you join me? Maybe we can prepare a few others, if anyone has suggestions.
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Brian
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Post by Brian on Dec 19, 2018 0:00:22 GMT -8
Thanks to the wonderful people who run the building where Pearl lives, and who take such good care of the tenants, for inviting us to share their holiday party Tuesday afternoon and celebrate Norm's life. A large sign board with photos of Norm, and him with Pearl and his many friends, adorned a table placed at the entrance to the community room, accompanied by big plush Mickey and Minnie Mouse dolls.
Jeanne and Bill brought their guitars and played some of the songs that Norm loved: "Tom Dooley," "Blowin' in the Wind," "Monday, Monday" and his all time favorite, "Where Have All the Flowers Gone." The most popular sing along came when they did "Lean on Me."
Norm's constant companions from all three peace vigils that he supported throughout the years -- Eagle Rock, Glendale and Montrose -- were there: Ross, Nina, Sharon, Bill, Jeanne, Anni and me. And so was Stevi, who took the photo at the top of this thread at Norm and Pearl's birthday party in 2014. Stevi has marched with the Peace Train in the past three Montrose Christmas Parades, at least, and she learned about the gathering from our long time friend Joyce, who read about it here on the Montrose Peace Vigil message board. Thank you, Joyce!
What a beautiful time. All we were missing was Norm.
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anni
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Post by anni on Dec 19, 2018 18:01:04 GMT -8
"What a beautiful time. All we were missing was Norm."
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Brian
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Post by Brian on Jan 21, 2019 0:00:10 GMT -8
Norm with Nancy Kent at a Glendale Peace Vigil in June 2011.
It's been more than a month, so I'm over the shock of Norm's death, but I've been missing him at every Montrose and Eagle Rock vigil since, and thinking about him whenever issues dear to his heart come up in the news.
Most of all, I miss his sweetness. Like so many people, Norm was addicted to his smart phone. He used to stick it in my face at vigils to impart all kinds of random information until I asked him not to. I didn't want to be distracted from demonstrating. Last October, he asked my permission to provide postseason baseball scores. I'm glad that Norm got to see his Red Sox become World Champions one more time. He was joyful yet considerate of all the Dodger fans around him because he knew how bad they felt about losing the World Series.
The mortuary just recently delivered Norm's ashes to Pearl. Now he's home again.
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