Norm Van Dine passed away peacefully at Miles Memorial Hospital on August, 26, 2015. He was born February 3, 1923 in Beverly, Massachusetts to Florence and Arthur Van Dine. Growing up in Beverly, he found his passion for the ocean and became an accomplished sailor and SCUBA diver. As a youth, his family and extended family would summer in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. There he developed his love for the mountains and became an avid skier; skiing well into his 80’s. He carried his love of the mountains throughout his life and it is where he met the love of his life, Peg (Jardine) Van Dine.

In 1942 at the age of 19, Norm enlisted in the Navy for Naval Aviation. He became an Aviator and flight instructor piloting the F4F, Wildcat. He was commissioned to the Aircraft carrier USS Fanshaw Bay (CVE-70) on the Pacific Ocean. He received the American Theatre Ribbon, the Victory Ribbon and the Asiatic Pacific Ribbon. After securing the rank of Ensign, he received Honorable Discharge in 1945. After WWII, Norm was asked by the Navy to stay on as an Aviation Instructor but the call of the Mountains and skiing pulled at him. He returned to New Hampshire and purchased a cabin in Pinkham Notch, Jackson, NH. While on ski patrol at Black Mountain he brought an injured skier into the North Conway Hospital, thereupon meeting his future wife, Peg. They were married in 1947.

Norm and Peg moved back to Beverly, MA to begin their family, bringing 2 daughters into the world. While working at United Shoe, Norm attended Boston University and received his B.S. in Geology. Norm was a man always inquisitive and excited about all the new technology developing at that time. He became involved with marketing and sales in the Microwave field of technology. Norm was a person that “never met a stranger”: he was in his element with marketing and sales. In his burgeoning career, he joined Sander Associates in Nashua, NH. Norm and his young family moved to Amherst, NH where they lived for over 20 years. During those years in Amherst, Norm was an active member in the community and developed lifelong friendships. Following retirement, Norm and Peg moved from their home in Amherst to settle in Nobleboro, ME. Norm was not an idle man, and became quickly involved in his beloved community of Lincoln County. He served as President of the Nobleboro Historical Society, was actively involved in Spectrum Generations, and was famously known as a docent for the Knox Museum in Thomaston, ME. There, he brought history alive for many school children and tourists. He was the Master of Ceremonies for the Nobleboro Apple Fest. During his retirement, Norm enjoyed the pleasures of having his children and grandchildren visiting him. He shared with them the Maine Coast through his passion for sailing. He loved to travel and frequently visited California to visit his daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughters; bringing with him his love for history, geology and the ocean. Whether on the West coast or the East coast he exuberantly shared this knowledge with his much cherished grandchildren.

Norm lived a full and interesting life. He had the unique ability to turn strangers into friends and was always the life of a party. He will be missed, but will live on through his children, grandchildren, and many “Norm Stories,” always shared with a chuckle. Norm's last years were spent as a resident of The Lincoln Home community. There he was able to maintain his very active life and have the wonderful care and friendships of Lincoln Home Community.

Norm is preceded in death by his wife Peg. Norm is survived by his daughters Gretchen Hutchinson and her husband Kim; Karen Di Marcello and her husband Austin; his sister Gloria Cann; 4 grandchildren: Erik, Erin, Azzurra and Bianca; and 3 great grandchildren.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, September 19th at 1:00 PM at the Lincoln Home, 22 River Road, Newcastle, ME.

Hall’s of Waldoboro has care of the arrangements. To extend online condolences, light a candle in Norm’s memory, or to share a story or picture, please visit his Book of Memories at www.hallfuneralhomes.com