Obituary of Norman E Ham

Obituary for Norman E. Ham Norman E. Ham of Springfield died at Eastern Maine Medical Center on Saturday, July 20th at age 81, surrounded by loved ones, with the Red Sox & Yankees game being broadcast on his old transistor radio. He was born March 6th, 1932 to Austin B. and Gertrude Ella (Orr) Ham. Norm was a life-long resident of Springfield, working in the woods of eastern Maine for the Eastern Corporation, then at Lincoln Pulp and Paper Company, during his long work life. He drove truck, operated equipment, and spent his final working years in the shipping room of LP&P. He was a remarkably thorough and diligent worker at everything he did. Norm was a dearly loved family member and will be sorely missed by Ken Budge, Kendra and Kevin Ritchie, Godson Aaron Knowles and wife Theresa, “grandsons” Matty, Aidan, Elijah and Finnegan Knowles, and Norm's god-daughter Aarika Ritchie and her partner Ben Guido. In addition to his immediate, “adopted” family, Norm is survived by a wonderful extended family made up of many brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews. He looked forward to the “Ham Reunions.” He was a trusted brother to Harold and friend Marion, Lawrence and Joan, Joyce Tozier, Dot Comar, Linda and Ron Doane, Keith and Floy, and Jean and Hazen Sawtelle. He was predeceased by friend Tina Budge and sisters Blanche White, Ruth Gibbs, Catherine (Cappy) Granville, and Marge Budge. He especially appreciated his helpful neighbors, niece Shelly and Scott, Rakel, Chris, Michael and Charlotte, and Georgie Spinney. He was a devoted fan of two generations of Lee Academy athletes and was a financial contributor to the new Student Services/Guidance rooms at the school. He was a master gardener whose beautiful, productive gardens yielded produce for many friends, family and neighbors. For decades, travelers stopped by the side of the road to photograph his gardens, with their carefully tended rows. For many years, Norm was a steadfast coffee-drinker and highly trained “counter intelligence” consultant at Smith's General Store in Springfield, where he leaves loyal friends who will miss him. Also special to Norm was his tractor buddy, Fred. Norm deeply loved and cared about the members of his adopted family. His life and relationships with them show that when we “lead with love”, the family we choose can have the bonds of blood kin. Norm, or “Non” as he was often called, was a gentle, stubborn, insightful man who had a quiet, enduring impact on his family and friends. Known for his “colorful” abilities with language, he saved his most creative and heartfelt cussin' for the times when the Red Sox were underachieving. He brought a generosity of spirit and grace to his relationships with people, especially children; every kid should have a Non. Although he could grumble and shake his head with the best of 'em, he was accepting and supportive of many different “ways of living” even when they were not his ways. One of his great interests, especially later in life, was the kitchen, and it became his laboratory for experimentation with cooking. Non loved to cook, try new recipes, share the results with friends and family and, in the tradition of the extended Budge family, he loved to eat in restaurants. He was a fan of Italian, Mexican, and Chinese foods, as well as the tried and true Maine foods of his heritage. Had he begun his life a decade or two earlier, he would likely have been a superb woods-camp cook. Among his many practical activities, for 25 years, he took his “vacations” to cut and buck the wood that was split in family “wood bee's” each fall. Norm was the lead groundskeeper at the Springfield Fairgrounds from 1990 to 2006, and he had a methodical way of preparing the 18 acres so that the last blades of grass were cut just prior to fair time, and the place was remarkably well-tended, beautiful and “ready for guests” the moment the fair opened. During the fair, he visited old friends, continued to tend the grounds, and featured his International tractor in the tractor shows. He did the same quality grounds work at the Springfield Congregational Church, a place he loved and tended, even though he sometimes noted that he “maintained a poor attendance record there on most Sundays.” Norm was an essential part of the upbringing of Aaron and Aarika, and he tended and played with them in their early years. As a sharp analyst of baseball, he was their first coach and mentor, playing pass and chasing their first hits into the woods and tall grass, for many hours. In old age, he did the same for “grandsons”, helping them learn to love the game, as well. They loved to come visit, eat Non's French toast, pizza, lasagna and cookies, and hang out with Gimp and Non. Although he often had little interest in venturing far into the world, he became a frequent traveler-- in all manner of weather-- to Colby Women's basketball games, from 2008-2012. Each trip started with coffee at McDonald's in Lincoln, and could end as far afield as Hamilton, New York or Paterson, New Jersey. Norm was a man of his word and he maintained that a straight line to the truth was best. In the end, he died the way he lived; no nonsense, no frills, facing his battle with courage and grit. Following his wishes, there will be no funeral. He did, however, reluctantly consent to a brief graveside service. This will be held at the Cole Cemetery in Springfield on Saturday, August 24, at 1:00pm. If any wish to contribute in his memory, donations may be made to the Springfield Congregational Church UCC, PO Box 7, Springfield, Maine.