Norman Joseph Cole

Norman Joseph Cole, 63, of Mill Spring, NC, died peacefully in his home on March 31, 2017.  Norm was diagnosed with Stage IV lung cancer two years ago, which he fought with remarkable determination.  He left his world surrounded by his loving family.  He and his wife Donna (Shepherd) Cole recently celebrated their 42nd wedding anniversary.

Norm was born November 8, 1953, the son of the late Norman F. Cole Jr. and Grace (DeBiase) Cole, and lived most of his life in Woodbury, CT.  He was a member of the first graduating class of Nonnewaug High School in Woodbury in 1971. 

After high school, Norman attended the National Hardwood Lumber Association inspection school and graduated top in his class as a certified lumber inspector.  He worked for his family business, Cole Bros. Lumber, Inc., for over twenty years before managing his own logging business.  He then obtained his real estate license and worked for Joseph Bette Real Estate and Joyce Drakeley Real Estate.

In 2004, he moved his family to Mill Spring, North Carolina, where he worked selling modular homes.  He retired to become caregiver for his disabled brother Douglas. 

Norm enjoyed bass fishing and competed in tournaments for many years.  He was best known north and south as an avid guitarist.  He started playing guitar at ten years old.  Like many musicians of that era, he was inspired by the Beatles.  He was the front man for various bands in Connecticut and loved the rich, musical culture he discovered in North Carolina.  He continued to play and record music until his final days.

In addition to his wife, Norman is survived by daughter Stephanie Silk and her husband Ed Silk of Danbury, CT; daughter Meredith Cole and her husband David Anderson of New York, NY; and son Norman J. Cole Jr. and his wife Penny Cole of Mill Spring, NC.  His beloved grandchildren are Tanya Merrill, Dakota Wolfe, and Dylan Siniard.  He also leaves his brothers, Bob and Douglas Cole of Petersburgh, NY, Bob’s wife Sharon, as well as his mother’s sister, Linda DeBiase Cole, her husband Art, several nieces and nephews, and the unique, loving, and extensive Cole family. 

Norm also leaves his ‘chosen’ family – the vast array of talented musicians (you know who you are) that he loved and lived and played with over the decades.  Thank you all for being part of Norm’s life.   

The family requests that donations be made to Hospice of Rutherford in lieu of flowers: http://hospiceofrutherford.org .

Calling hours will be Friday, April 7, 2017 from 6 pm - 8 pm at Munson-Lovetere Funeral Home, 2 School Street Woodbury, CT.  A service will take place on Saturday, April 8, 2017 at 10 am at the funeral home in Woodbury, followed by a burial in Bethlehem Cemetery. 

 Service Information