Norman A. Burdick, 92

Norman A. Burdick

1932-2024

Norman A. Burdick, of Williamstown, MA, passed away on Tuesday, September 10, 2024, at age 92. As he would say, he was in his 93rd year.

Norm was born April 15, 1932 to Eleanor Burdick, in an old farmhouse where his grandparents lived in Plainfield, MA. Norm’s grandparents, Herbert and Clara (Galusha) Burdick, lovingly welcomed the new arrival into their family. An orphanage offered to take Norm, as they often did back then, but Herbert said “Never! There is always room for one more Burdick at my table!” Herbert and Clara remained close in Norm’s heart, like second parents, for the rest of his life. When Norm was 2 years old, he and his mother moved to a small hillside farm in Charlemont, MA, owned by Steve Wilbur, his soon-to-be stepfather. Steve taught Norm all aspects of farm work on a poor, small family farm during the Great Depression. Steve was totally blind; and, as Norm would say, Steve was also “deaf in one ear, and couldn’t hear out of the other.” By age 10, Norm was driving the horse-drawn farm equipment and the 1926 Dodge pickup truck. He had become Steve’s eyes and ears. Norm attended Charlemont High School, where he played basketball and baseball. Norm graduated in 1949, and he would say with a chuckle, “I was the top 10% of my class!” (He was first in his class of nine students).

Shortly before graduation, Norm’s English teacher came to him with a surprise that would change the course of his life. She told him that she had made an appointment for him to take the entrance exam at then North Adams State Teachers College (now Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts), and that she would pick him up Saturday morning to drive him over the Mohawk Trail. College had never before entered his mind. He passed the exam and spent the next four years riding the steam train through the Hoosac Tunnel from Charlemont to North Adams and back. At college, he excelled on the basketball and baseball teams. He also played semi-pro baseball, and for a season was in the Phillies organization.

Drafted into the army during the Korean War Era, he was granted a three-month deferral until he graduated in 1953 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Education. He would in later years earn his Master’s Degree in Education from the same college. His most significant duty assignment in the Army was Supply Sergeant, in the 71st Antiaircraft Artillery Missile Battalion, Fort Belvoir, MD, setting up Nike missiles (the first operational surface to air missiles) for defense around the Washington, DC area during the Cold War.

After honorable discharge from the army, he worked briefly at Sprague Electric Co., North Adams. In 1955, he began his 32-year teaching career in the Williamstown Public Schools. He first taught numerous grades at the Little Red Schoolhouse in South Williamstown. When that closed, he taught at the now Williamstown Elementary School, and coached basketball and baseball at the former Williamstown High School. When that high school was closed and incorporated into the newly formed Mount Greylock Regional Junior and Senior High School District, Norm stayed in elementary education and taught 6th grade at Williamstown Elementary School for many years. He served as Acting Principal for a year. He retired from classroom teaching in 1987. He then taught Drivers Education for 29 years, first with Duquette’s Driving School until it closed, then with Dave’s Driving School. All of Norm’s children, and many grandchildren, have “entered the family business,” working as educators, classroom teachers, adjunct college professors, coaches, and driving instructors.

On August 9, 1958, Norm married the love of his life Betsey (Sebastiana Maria Gianquinto), of North Adams. They purchased a house and 20 acres in South Williamstown, and created a family farm, naming it Steepmeadow, where Norm lived for the rest of his life. They raised their six children with love and devotion, and lots of farm work. Their children learned valuable life lessons, as Norm had in his youth on the farm in Charlemont. They raised and sold vegetables, fruits, and berries; made apple cider and maple syrup; kept flocks of chickens, ducks, turkeys, and geese, and sold eggs; raised and sold purebred Collies; rode horses, ponies, and mules throughout the pastures, woods, and mountainside; milked the Jersey cow; tended the sheep and the pigs and the beef steers; played softball in the field (a ball hit into the pond was an automatic home run); swam in summer and skated in winter; and zoomed down the snow covered hill on sleds, toboggans, and skis. The Steepmeadow Christmas Tree Farm was the best deal around: $10 a tree, any size, and the price never went up (“Every family should be able to afford a real Christmas tree!”); cut your own or have one cut for you; free use of the sleds and toboggans for sliding; and free hot chocolate and homemade Christmas cookies lovingly baked by Betsey. Through the years, twelve grandchildren have enjoyed these same activities at “Nana and Grampy’s” farm. More recently, Norm was delighted to see his four great-grandchildren begin the fourth generation of learning life lessons at Steepmeadow Farm.

Coming from a musical family, Norm loved music his whole life. By the time he could talk, he was singing. He got his first ukelele at age 5, and his first guitar at age 10. He played bass drum in his high school drum and bugle corps, and performed and sang in musicals throughout high school and college. He sang lead in a barbershop quartet, The Educators, with three teacher colleagues. In the 1960s, Norm and Betsey, with their six children, formed The Burdick Family Singers. They performed at church suppers, country fairs, and folk festivals throughout the northeast. Mostly self-taught, as Norm had been in his youth, they sang and played guitar, banjo, fiddle, mandolin, flute, tambourine, maracas, and bongo drum; many of these instruments had been passed down through Norm’s family. In 1976, they were named Amateur Music Making Family of the Year by The American Music Conference. In 2016, Norm completed the Number One item on his bucket list, when he recorded a double CD, “An Evening with Norman Burdick: Songs From The Heart.” For this CD, recorded live at The Store at Five Corners in South Williamstown, Norm performed many of his old favorite songs - bluegrass, folk, and country-western, plus original songs that he began writing in his 85th year. Norm also taught music and led sing-a-longs for many years at local elementary schools, and especially enjoyed it when a grandchild was in the class.

Norm was a force to be reckoned with in politics. A proudly independent voter, he was pleased that in 1972, the Burdick Family Singers were asked to perform a fund raiser concert for George McGovern’s Democratic Party presidential campaign. Norm was a decades-long member of Veterans for Peace. In his later years he wrote many strongly stated political opinions for the Letters to the Editor section of the local newspapers, The Berkshire Eagle, and the former North Adams Transcript. A good number of his original songs included political commentary and current events that he was passionate about.

Norm served his community as either President of the Board and/or a member of the volunteer leadership for numerous organizations, including Northern Berkshire YMCA, Williamstown Historical Museum, Lions Club, 4-H, and American Legion Post 152 of Williamstown. He was President of the Board for the South Williamstown Community Association for more than twenty years. He was a Cub Scout Pack Master, and coached basketball for the former Williamstown Boys Club. He led the children’s music program at the Second Congregational Church of Williamstown. For years, he was Santa Claus, bringing Christmas joy to many children at numerous community holiday events.

Norm was widely known, respected, and beloved in the community, and was regarded by many as the unofficial Mayor of South Williamstown. In his later years, to almost everyone who knew him, he was simply their “Grampy.” Norm was predeceased by his mother Eleanor Pierce, and his stepfather Steve Wilbur; and two sisters; Kay Fielder, and Carol Tidland. He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Betsey Burdick. He is also survived by two brothers; Donald Wilbur (Gladys) of Winston-Salem, NC, and Lyle Pierce, of Lunenburg, MA, and a sister, Lorene Pierce of New Mexico. Norm had intense love for, and pride in, his family. He leaves his six children; Shawn Burdick (Kate) of North Adams, Scott Burdick (Laurie) of Lanesborough, Todd Burdick (Michelle) of North Adams, Tracey Golding (Peter) of Puyallup, WA, Liza Barrett (Paul) of Hancock, and Ross Burdick (Elizabeth) of Scarborough, ME. He also leaves twelve grandchildren; Justin (Amy), Amanda (Harrison), Annabel (Rashaan), Ted, Hank, Ben, Lucy, Abe, Will, Priya, Izzy, and Oliver; and his four great-grandchildren; Kai, Ellie, Wesley, and Jrue. Norm is also survived by numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.

The family wishes to express their thanks and appreciation to the staff members at Williamstown Commons, and the former Sweetbrook Nursing Home, for their warm acceptance of Norm. As a daily visitor, he spent nearly every day by the side of his wife Betsey, holding her hand and never letting go, during the 12 years she has resided in their nursing homes.

Norm’s final wish for all is to “Keep A Song In Your Heart.”

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, October 12, at 12:00 noon at the Second Congregational Church, 81 Hancock Road, Williamstown. Immediately following, A Celebration of Life will be held at Steepmeadow Farm, 1491 Hancock Road, Williamstown. All are encouraged to bring a story about Norm to share if desired. The family recommends you dress comfortably for both the Memorial Service at the church, and the Celebration of Life, which will be outside under large tents.

A private interment of ashes will be held at a later date in the family plot at Steepmeadow Farm.

In his memory, donations may be made to The Norman & Betsey Burdick Scholarship Fund (for Mt. Greylock High School students entering the field of education), in care of FLYNN & DAGNOLI-MONTAGNA HOME FOR FUNERALS CENTRAL CHAPEL, 74 Marshall St. North Adams, MA 01247. You may also honor his legacy by exercising your right to vote. To add to the Book of Memories, please visit flynndagnolifuneralhomes.com.