Obituary: Norman J. Gordon Jr., 1955-2024

Norman
J. Gordon Jr. passed away on May 6, 2024, at the Burlington Health &
Rehabilitation Center in Burlington, after a recent diagnosis.

Norman
was born to Patricia A. Camper and raised by both Wayne and Patricia
in Burlington, where he continued to live during his childhood. Norm
and his brother Gary would recite endless stories of what Catholic
school was like for them, being sent to camp in the woods alone
despite the weather, having to share a bike and Gramma Sweets’ fried
potatoes. Norm fell in love with the outdoors, beginning with those
very first adventures with his brother and from being a Boy Scout.
His love for nature included gardening and a lifelong interest in
flowers. He was self-reliant from the age of 7, walking over to
Catherine Street in Burlington for his haircut, to years later
teaching other stroke patients how to open milk cartons with one
hand.

He
moved to Colorado with his family and started his career as an
arborist. In the ’80s, he returned to work for a tree company in
Vermont, where an accident left him paralyzed on one side. After some
rehabilitation and family support, Norm went on to live his life
independently. He made many friends in the Queen City and was often
referred to as “Stormin’ Norman.”

We
are so thankful to all those that cared for Norm in his last few
weeks and to Pierre, who called the ambulance. Thank you for
allowing us to have these last weeks, enjoying and comforting him.
Norman is survived by a daughter, Lisa Gordon; his mother, Patricia
Camper; brothers Gary Gordon and wife Carolyn, Eric Camper and wife
Deborah, and Rick Camper; and sister, Pam Isham, and husband Tom.
Norm is predeceased by his father, Wayne G. Camper, and his brother
Douglas Camper.

Family
and acquaintances of Norm’s are asked to gather for a circle of
storytelling on June 1, 2024, 11 a.m., at Battery Park in Burlington.

This article appears in May 8-14, 2024.