1934 – 2013

AUBURN — Norman C. Davis, 79, of Fairview Avenue, died Sunday, Dec. 29, at his home.

Born in Augusta on March 16, 1934, he was a son of the late Marguerite and Sam Davis. He graduated from Edward Little High School in 1952. He was the high scorer on the basketball team and leading home-run hitter for the Edward Little baseball team, and he was one of the first players to hit a home run out of the old Pettingill Park. He was also one of the leading hitters in the Twin City Baseball League.

Norm went to Battle Creek, Mich., with the Bates Manufacturers baseball team and signed a contract with the Baltimore Orioles. He also played with the Auburn ASAs, as they traveled all across New England playing baseball.

Norm also played semi-pro basketball with the Bates Manufacturers and Central Distributors teams, and became a basketball referee when he was 45 and worked for 10 years. He also worked at Hallowell Shoe in Augusta as a pattern maker and in quality control, then as stitching room supervisor at Commonwealth Shoe in Lewiston. He went to work in Freeport for Eastland Shoe and became its plant superintendent, after which he was plant manager at Henschel Shoe Co. in Littleton, N.H.

When the plant closed, he went to Husson College for two years and went into education as an ed tech, working with students one on one at Libby-Tozier School and Carrie Ricker Middle School; he was like a grandfather to the students at both schools. He enjoyed working with the kids and made many special friendships. Norm was honored with a very special assembly at Carrie Ricker Middle School on April 11, 1988, for his induction into the Hall of Fame. His sense of humor was an asset to the two schools, as he was always jovial.

He umpired softball for 30 years and was on the National Umpire Staff for the Amateur Softball Association and the state and regional umpire-in-chief until 1999, when he gave up his state position. He gave clinics on softball rules and mechanics of umpiring in 34 states across the U.S., and overseas for the U.S. Air Force in Italy, Turkey, Germany and England. He spoke at many testimonials and was inducted into the Auburn-Lewiston Sports Hall of Fame in 1997. He always said that any success he had was due to his beloved wife, Elaine, as she was “the wind beneath his wings.”

His family was very dear to him; his daughter and son-in-law and his sons and daughters-in-law were his life. He leaves his wife of 52 years, Elaine, and three children: one daughter, Doreen Venezia of Woodbridge, Va.; and two sons and daughters-in-law, Michael and Dorna Davis of Leeds and Tom and Betty-Ann Davis of Winslow. He also leaves special grandchildren whom he loved and worshipped, Lindsay Davis, Keith Davis and Griffin Davis; a host granddaughter, Vika Arkhipova; a brother, Herbert, of Auburn; many nieces and nephews, including Bobby Nichols of Winslow and Karen Nichols of Minot; and dear friends whom he met through softball, Jerry and Sue Hansen of Midland, Mich., and Jim and Barb Craig of Buffalo, N.Y.

He was predecased by a son-in-law, Jim Venezia; two grandsons, Cody and Christopher; and a sister, Maxine Martineau.

He was instrumental in getting many local umpires into national tournaments. He was umpire-in-chief for 50 national tournaments and was highly regarded by the national governing body of softball, the ASA. He will be missed by his best friends, Joe and Gloria Rousseau, as they had some great times together. His humor was always ready to cheer people up. The Daggett family of Litchfield became very close to him in the past few years: John, Rita, Johnny, Nic and his “Bud,” Ben Daggett. He will be missed by all the kids and teachers at Libby-Tozier School, where he worked, and everyone at Carrie Ricker Middle School, where he coached basketball, as he believed that at that level, it was important for every player to play in each game. He had been working in the Title 1 program at Libby-Tozier School in Litchfield.

You are invited to offer condolences and pay tribute to Norman’s life by visiting his guest book at www.thefortingroupauburn.com.