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Norton's daughter kindly alerted us about Norton's death. Norton was a good friend to many of us starting with our first day at the Bedford Road School right through Pleasantville Jr. High graduation when he headed off to the Lenox School. It was a great delight to reconnect with him for our 50th.
This obituary appeared in the Eugene Register Guard:
Norton, loving father, family member, and friend died peacefully on Thursday, September 16th, 2021. Norton was born in Bronxville, NY on January 25, 1946. He was educated at Lenox School, University of the South, and the University of Virginia.
After 20 successful years in banking, Norton moved to Eugene from New Hampshire in 1988 to begin a new career as a rental property manager focused on low income tenants. He volunteered for decades with many coalitions, commissions and legislators to protect Oregon's tenants and landlords. He was renowned for his extensive knowledge of the state's tenancy laws.
Norton was defined by his intelligence and wit. He was infinitely curious and inquisitive. He worked always to build new skills and to hone old ones. He enjoyed playing bridge, developing his French language fluency and tracing his family lineage.
Norton deeply loved his huge family and treasured his time with them every year at Squam Lake in Center Harbor, New Hampshire. It was the highlight of his year. Norton is survived by three children, a large extended family and a constellation of friends.
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Becky Ketchum
Marilynn Zipes (Wallace)
I used to 'hang out' a bit with Norton (whom we called 'Nort') and Tom Bossert back when we were in junior high. Tom and Nort were good friends, I recall. I was sorry that he left us to go to school elsewhere as he was fun to be with.
Geoffery Yorke
I was saddened to read of the passing of yet another "associate member" of our class. I am very grateful that the hard work of our 50th Reunion Committee continues to bear fruit (however bitter it may be) by allowing us the opportunity to know of the passing of people near and dear to us who did not quite travel the last mile with us to graduation. I remember Norton clearly, though I did not know him particularly well when we were in school together. I recall he was a member of the Pleasantville Numismatic Society, a coin collectors club that included me, Dick Whelan, Greg Flood, Doug McGrame (sp.) and probably several others of our PJHS classmates whose names escape me for the moment. It sounds as if Norton got his feet planted firmly on the ground in later life in a couple of fields of endeavor and that he will be greatly missed by both colleagues and family.
Ted Gelsthorpe
Thanks Becky, for letting us know about Norton's passing. As you have with many of us, you befriended Norton and have enriched his and all our lives.
My pleasant memories of Norton were of a bright, sensitive, and all-around good guy. I'm sorry to say I allowed our friendship to wither as I did with other classmates = among my shortcomings. Norton was such a bright, sensitive, and all-around good guy. It is gratifying to observe how his fine character appeared to have grown and enabled Norton and his wife to raise a fine family and to benefit the human condition.
I recall Norton from BFS through PJHS. His family lived on Ashland Ave. and he and Tom Bossart were buddies as I recall. When Norton transferred to the Lennox School aka high school, if memory serves me accurately, his family moved from Ashland Ave. to Lake Waccabuc or was that only for a "country home?"
From the notes I've just read, It appears Norton enjoyed a successful banking career and, later, upon retirement and his move to Oregon, he initiated (what I refer to as) a "good works" program for his family and for others, too. In the spirit of graciousness, hospitality, and generosity, he appears to have helped people who have not been so fortunate as many of us who benefited from and grew up in P-ville during the post-WWII prosperity years. Isn't it interesting how the attractive behaviors we observed in our childhood friends appear to have persisted through their entire lives? Norton appears to be one of those special people. When I recall pleasant childhood memories, I could write about so many other of our classmates...many who may be reading this missive.
As was Norton, I can't think of anyone from our 50th (including our teachers who attended) that isn't of outstanding character, perseverance, and great company. Norton's memories are helping me reconnect with those good times and good people...his spirit lives on within many of us. I flatter ourselves to think there was something really special about our "pleasant" childhoods growing up in P-ville, Usonia, and Armonk. But, yes, I do think there was something special about us individually and our mutually supportive group. As my mother passed away only 18 months ago after riding through nearly 20 years of Alzhiemer's, I recognize several of my friends (Hi Chip & Sara) with whom we were acquainted BEFORE kindergarten are now people we've known longer than nearly anyone else on the planet. .longer than even my youngest brother and sister. My Uncle Harry MacLaughlin (my mother's younger brother) being my other longest and oldest surviving relative.
Cheers to us all...somewhere, someplace, somehow, I suspect Norton is observing our human condition and ,with his usual good humor, he is sharing his wry observations with assembled family and friends.
Tom Bossert
Remembering Norton Cabell
We were fast friends in grade school through junior high. I lived on Bedford Road and would walk to his house on Ashland Avenue through the back fields behind my house. His father was a banker, which apparently he became too for a while, and I think when we were in junior high they moved to a grander house, either further north in Westchester or in Connecticut, that backed on to a golf course. I had some clubs from my grandfather, and we snuck onto the golf course in off season and pretended we were the Sandler twins who were the golf champions of our class. I also spent some time with the family on their Squam Lake house in New Hampshire and remember canoeing around the lake together.
Norton was much smarter than I was and had a dry almost cynical sense of humor. We would play cards or chess and he would always beat me. We also played a game of naming capital cities of different countries. He always seemed to know more than I could, but he let me know that he knew the name of the capital of Afghanistan (who even knew where Afghanistan was then) because Kabul was so close to Cabell. He thought of himself as a southerner and informed me that the Civil War was really the “War Between the States” and was about states’ rights and not slavery.
We set up a business based on my photography and took glamor photos of some of the girls in our class including Becky, Pam, Ann, Misty and Mari -- some up in trees looking dreamy. I also took pictures of the heart throb junior high teacher, Mr. Ashe, and we sold them to the girls in our class until the principal informed me that we should not take advantage of the “captive audience” and banned us from selling them on the school property.
It is interesting to be reminded by our classmates of our dance classes with Mrs Erda – awkward teenagers trying so hard to be grown up. Not sure we knew enough to know if we were “cool” or not but we were surely trying.
I was not surprised to learn he followed his father into banking, but it is so nice to know that he became such a thoughtful and effective affordable housing activist in Eugene and family man with a large family. I am now sorry we did not try harder to stay in touch or at least renew that young friendship after the 50th reunion. It would have been fun to reminisce and to catch up with our divergent lives.
Here are some old photos from our “photography business.”
Marilynn Zipes (Wallace)
Loved reading what you wrote about your special friendship with Nort, Tom! Such a warm tribute!
Didn't know about Mr. Ashe and the photos!!! How enterprising!
I'd forgotten all about Miss Erda's 6th grade dance club. I remember dancing with Chris Connell (another former classmate whom we've lost...) and also with Mike Lane. Can't remember much else about it...
Halcyon days, eh?
Kathlyn Hannigan (Deak)
Sparkling eyes and bow ties -- RIP. xxxx
Mitzi Porter (Bolin)
So sad to learn of Norton's passsing, but it brings up memories that make me smile. I remember him mostly from Junior High ,always smiling or laughing. He was one of a group of us -- me, Nancy McCain, Amy Philmus (who graduated early, but came back to some of our reunions), Tom B, and Jimmy Robinson, maybe others, who hiked together in Durney's Fields to Flagg Hill a number of times. Tom, I wonder if you were taking pictures then... likely so. I loved those shared adventures! He was a really upbeat, funny guy, and I was so sad that he went away to school .
It was really interesting to read of his careers, especially the work he did with the housing situation in Eugene, giving back in such an important, caring way. I love the picture of him in his obituary. His gentleness, kindness,and positive outlook, as well as wonderful sense of humor shine through. Rest in Peace, Norton.
Barbara Kaestner (Curry)
I didn't know Norton but I am reminded about his older brother Dick Cabell who was in my class, Class of '61. Dick also went away to school at some point, not sure if he was in PHS with us or not, he may have left after junior high. I remember him as being friendly and "nice looking".......