Obituary: Norman E. Douglass Jr.

Born near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in Sewickley, and raised in Fair Oaks, his dad worked as a mineralogist at J&L Steel. Norm often spoke of soot on the window sills, the melting pot of friends and most fondly of riding his bike up and down the Pittsburgh hills for his paper route. And he always made sure to point out to us kids that the bikes had no gears.

After moving to suburban Philadelphia in his teens, he found his love of automobiles, and bought a Model T, which he drove to attend Penn State in 1949, where he joined Pi Kappa Phi and studied geology. After barely two years, Norm enlisted in the Air Force at the time of the Korean conflict. Most of his four years were spent in Wisconsin, where he bought his Ford “woody,” and was discharged in 1955 at the rank of Staff Sergeant. Norm loved the order and discipline of the military, and that would continue to be an influence throughout his life. He completed his education at the University of Tampa in 1958, an area he would return to to finish his career and eventually retire. Norm and Helen spent nearly 25 years in St. Pete, Florida, enjoying their boat and the best neighbors ever.

Norm’s one sport was skiing. It became the activity that the whole family took part in through the ‘60s and ‘70s, and southern Vermont was like a second home during ski season. We are forever grateful for those times and memories at the ski chalet. To the end of his 94 years, he told stories of ski trips in Austria in the ‘70s with beloved friends (the kids were left at home), and when Hood River got snow, he would still head out to make “fresh tracks” in his Ford.

The moving and driving continued in retirement as Norm and Helen would travel for months at a time, pulling their “Casita” trailer, crossing the country five times, logging tens of thousands of miles, visiting old friends and family in their long list of old stomping grounds, meeting other travelers, loving the meandering roads, and historical and geological sites … and only missing out on Alaska and Hawaii. These were some of their most favorite times. And Norm always had his dear dog Jake by his side. He loved trees, rivers, hot springs and camping. These trips were reminiscent of his often talked about boy scout days.

As his kids, we would say he ruled the house with a tight fist, even when he wasn’t there. We did as told because “we were under his roof.” He was always yelling at us to “stop thumping,” and to “do as I say, not as I do.” On family road trips, we endured long hours, no stops, dog breath and gas from the beloved Airedale, cigarette smoke, bickering and dad naming every single old car make and model that we passed. His cars were spotless, the garage immaculate. There was nothing that you could get away with that he would not detect, especially if it had anything to do with one of the cars. And later we would laugh at the endless, noisy, kitchen gadgets which covered every inch of counter space and allowed no one to carry on an uninterrupted conversation. Long live the knife sharpener, air fryer and vacuum pack sealer.

He was Stormin’ Norman. Mr. Clean. Large and in charge. Opinionated and sarcastic. And he called the shots right up to his final days … and left us peacefully.

Norman leaves his wife, Helen Douglass, of Hood River; daughter Dee (Diana) and partner Skip of New Hampshire; daughter Toodie (Carol) of Hood River; son Doug (Norman III) and wife Anna, and granddaughter Sadie of Hood River; and grandson Robert Ressler and wife Sara, and great-granddaughters Lorna and Elina of Everett, Washington. He also leaves his sister, Carolyn Hubers of Bluffton, South Carolina, and the Fairbanks, Blech, Stone and Hannah/Ritter families. He was preceded in death by his parents, Norman and Helen Douglass Sr., and his grandson Derek P. Ressler.

A celebration of Norman’s life will be held Friday, May 23 from 4-7 p.m. at the Columbia Gorge Hotel. Military honors and interment at Idlewilde Cemetery will take place at a later date.

Our family would like to thank all of the doctors and medical staff in Hood River, for their exceptional care and friendship over the years, whom he loved to challenge and give a hard time. We’d also like to thank the compassionate staff at Skyline Hospital for their care and who helped us navigate our final days together.

Memorial contributions in his Norm’s name can be made to WAAAM, Western Antique Aeroplane & Automobile Museum,1600 Air Museum Road, Hood River, OR 97031, or please plant an evergreen tree in his honor. Visit Anderson’s Tribute Center website to leave a note for the family.