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Legacy Remembers, 16 July 2022
Norman Clark Bassett
Norman Clark Bassett died peacefully with family by his side on July 2, 2022 at John C. Lincoln hospital in Phoenix, AZ. Norman (Norm) was born June 17, 1931 to William Glenroy Bassett and Jeannette (Neff) Bassett in Longmeadow, MA. Many people called Norman "Bubby", a nickname he earned as a small child. Norm's father died in 1938 when Norm was seven years old. His mother remarried George Campbell who helped raise Norm. Many other fathers took Norm under their wing, teaching him about boats, boating maintenance, how to run a business, and gave Norm his life-long love of sailing.
Norm attended Classical High School in Springfield, MA, graduating in 1949. He attended Brown University where he swam on the varsity team and was a member of the Class of 1953. While at Brown, he met Martha Scott, whom he married in 1953.
Norm enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1953, serving at West Point and in Germany with the 1st Infantry Division. After his service in the US Army, Norm returned to the states in 1955, working for Hayden Wayside Furniture in Enfield, CT. He became store manager, a post he held for 28 years. Norm and Martha originally lived in East Longmeadow, MA until settling in Longmeadow where they raised their five children. In 1984 he and Martha moved to their dream waterfront home in Rockport, MA, and Norm became the manager of C.F. Tompkins Furniture in Danvers, MA. Norm moored his beloved Pearson Triton sailboat, Pandora, at eastern Point Yacht Club in Gloucester Harbor. Norm and Martha spent much of their vacations sailing the North Shore and exploring the coast of Maine. Norm made friends in nearly every port, usually by taking an evening swim around the harbor and striking up conversations between strokes.
In 1990 Norm opened his own store in Danvers and named it Scott Wayside in honor of Martha. He ran the store with the same integrity that guided him throughout his furniture management career. He enjoyed the personal relationships developed while helping loyal customers design their homes. When Norm closed the store he was not ready for retirement. He took a position managing Westwood Furniture's Stickley Gallery Showroom in Middleton, MA. Later, he embarked on a management and promotional sales career with D.M Reid and also with Planned Furniture Promotions. Norm traveled the country working promotional sales where his energy, enthusiasm and humor helped him forge friendships with his coworkers, many of whom were 50-60 years his junior. Norm worked his last furniture sale in 2019 and finally retired for good at age 87.
Norm was predeceased by his wife of 46 years, Martha (Scott). He is survived by Elizabeth (Betsy) Scott Bennett (John) of Sterling, VA, William Glen Bassett (Shirley) of Lexington, MA, Katharine Tobin (Timm) of Chatham, MA, Eleanor (Ellie) Bassett of Hudson, NH, and David Scott Bassett of Glastonbury, CT. Norm also leaves nine grandchildren (Joe, Katie, Gregg, Chris, Paige, James, Nick, Charlotte and Haley) and one great grandson (Peter). Norm leaves his wife Barbara Daniel of Phoenix, AZ.
Norm founded and was the long-time scoutmaster for Boy Scout Troop 95 in Longmeadow, MA. His scouts and the adults who worked with him always have a "Mr. Bassett" story to fondly remember him by. He was recognized in 1980 by the Pioneer Valley Council for his contributions to scouting.
Norm's life-long passion was sailing, a skill he learned through the kindness of others who took him under their wing when he was 7 years old after his father passed away. Spending summers at Point O'Woods in Old Lyme, CT, Norm learned how to sail many different types of boats, how to restore sailboats to working order and how to run a successful business renting out boats and giving boat rides. He referred to any boat whose primary means of propulsion was a motor as a "stink pot".
A graveside service will be held in the future in the Point O'Woods cemetery in Old Lyme, CT. Cards to the family or requests for further information can be sent to 202 Markwood Drive, Sterling, VA 20165.
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Bassett Family Association Database
1931 - 2022 (91 years)