Gary Robert Norton passed from this life on August 14, 2016 after a long illness. Gary was born in Bellport, Long Island, New York on June 22, 1950, 3 days before the start of the Korean War where his father was recalled to serve as a bomber pilot for the first year of Gary's life.
Gary is the much-loved son of Doris Savastio Norton and the late Robert Lawrence Norton of Gales Ferry, CT. He graduated from Ridgefield High School in Ridgefield, CT and attended Western Connecticut State College. For a time he worked in the restaurant business in Lake Placid, New York, where he met his first wife, the former Heidi Grote, and returned to Ridgefield, CT where their son Joshua was born.
He was employed at the Katonah-Lewisboro School in New York for 30 years as the Maintenance Foreman of Operations and met his second wife, the former Karen Ralphs.
Gary retired at 62 and came to live with his mom in Gales Ferry where he could be of service to her and any of his family who needed him.
Gary thrived on staying busy. He was an accomplished carpenter, where he built and repaired anything, and in all of his years he did that for friends and family with pleasure. Gary enjoyed music all of his life, played guitar, mandolin and piano. He wrote and copyrighted numerous songs which he would play and practice for himself, his family or anyone who wanted to listen. Gary loved the beach and would walk 5 miles a day there, summer and winter.
Gary leaves a loving family, his son Joshua Scott Norton of New Milford, CT, his mother Doris Norton of Gales Ferry, CT, his brother Jeffrey Scott Norton and wife Nancy of West Burke, VT, his sister Carol Norton-Lussier of Canterbury, CT, his niece Holly Beth Norton of St. Johnsbury, VT, his niece Stephanie Ann Lussier of Canterbury, CT and his aunts, uncles and cousins. He also leaves his 2 former wives whom he remained friends with and so many friends across the country from Alaska to California to Florida to Delaware and New York.
He will be forever missed for his loving, generous nature and his great humor and wit.
His family would like to extend their thanks and gratitude to Gary's able and caring caregivers in the last weeks of his life, Toyin, Maria, Gladys and Ana of Lighthouse Companion Care and his wonderful nurse, Jennifer, from Hospice of Southeast CT.
Family and friends are invited to attend a Memorial Service on Saturday, August 20, at 12:00 Noon at the Dinoto Funeral Home, 17 Pearl Street, Mystic.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial donation may be made to the Center for Hospice Care of Southeast CT.
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