NEW HAMPTON ---- Normand A. Pinette, 91, of New Hampton, NH, passed away on Sunday, August 4, 2024 in Concord, NH, from injuries sustained following an accident on July 25, 2024. He passed away surrounded by his daughter Norma Brennan and her husband Tim Brennan, who remained by his bedside for the 10 days following his accident.
Normand was born in Dracut, MA on October 3, 1932, the son of the late Raymond Pinette and Alice (Plourde) Pinette.
Normand is a Korean War Veteran of the 45th Infantry Division (the “Thunderbirds” of the US Army). Upon his return from war, he joined his brother in the operations of Ray’s Chain Link Fence Co. in Dracut, MA. This was his introduction to working with metal products and installations. Eventually, the two built a profitable business. When the business was dissolved, Normand and Theresa moved to New Hampton, NH and purchased a motel and 16 cottages on Lake Pemigewasset on Rte. 104. He kept his hand in working with metal and after converting the motel and cottages into condominiums, he turned to blacksmithing full-time and never stopped. He was proudly well-known as “The Blacksmith” far and wide.
Normand’s creativity and ingenuity served him well. He was well known for customizing iron work for his many satisfied customers. Folks looking for a metal fabricator knew him by word-of-mouth or through his website (www.nhblacksmith.com). After resisting for a long time, he finally accepted an apprentice, Mark Koester. According to Normand, it was one of the best decisions he ever made. Mark will ensure that Normand’s craft and creativity will live on. They have become best buds. Mark has been like a son to him, helping out with anything he needed.
Normand is survived by his daughter, Norma Brennan and her husband Timothy Brennan, of Mattapoisett, MA, his apprentice and closest friend Mark Koester and his wife Lynne Rainen of New Hampton, NH. Normand is also survived by his daughter Gail Chase and her husband Tom Stovall of Sarasota, FL, his son Darin Pinette of Hampton, NH, six grandchildren, Jaime Cullen, Shaun Sutherland, Eric Chase, Nicole Dowd, Darcy Pinette and Kathryn Misiano, seven great-grandchildren, numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and dear friends from Pemi Shores Condo Association, Nova Scotia, Canada, Gilford, NH, and Polk City, Florida. Normand is predeceased by his wife Theresa M. Pinette, who passed away on October 3, 2022. He is also predeceased by his four brothers and one sister.
There will be no calling hours.
A service will be held at Richardson Cemetery in Dracut, MA in the near future, where Normand will be laid to rest alongside his beloved Theresa.
For those who wish, the family suggests that memorial donations in Normand's name be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, PO Box 758516, Topeka, KS 66675-8516.
Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services/603Cremations.com, 164 Pleasant St., Laconia, NH, 03246, is assisting the family with arrangements. For more information and to view an online memorial, please visit wilkinsonbeane.com.