Norman J. Fontaine

Norman J. Fontaine, 79, devoted husband, father, grandfather (Pep), camper extraordinaire and number one Yankee fan, passed away peacefully at home. Most recently a resident of Farmington, Norman was born in Meriden to the late Wilfred and Juliette Fontaine and attended local schools. Norm excelled in basketball and was recognized in a ceremony at Maloney High School honoring the top 50 scoring players in the school’s history. In addition to his love of basketball, he also excelled in golf, horseshoes, duckpin bowling, softball and baseball where he pitched in semi pro games. There was not a sport that Norm wouldn’t love and excel at. Norm was employed by New Departure, a General Motors manufacturing company, for 30 years. Norm met and married his beloved wife Adrienne in the early 70’s and shortly after meeting they discovered their love for camping, beginning with weekends spent at Black Rock State Park. Norm and Adrienne spent their time together camping and enjoying the company of their families and friends. Weekend camping trips and vacations to their favorite campgrounds were always enjoyed and full of lots of horseshoe playing. Everything for Norm centered around his family: his children, step children, grandchildren and dear friends.

In their retirement, Norm and Adrienne traveled cross country during the winter months for many years visiting their family in California and Oregon and attending many of their grandsons’ baseball and basketball games. Over the years, they visited all 50 states and spent several months in Maui, Hawaii before settling down in two campgrounds–Roaring Brook in Stafford, CT for the spring and summer months and beautiful Corkscrew Woodlands in Estero, FL for the fall and winter months. They made so many dear friends. Norm was very active in his communities participating in board and committee activities and playing a significant role in many other park activities, especially the famed sports weekends, a family favorite! Norm always enjoyed making the grandkids breakfast sandwiches when they popped into the camp store where he worked and was the grill master. He enjoyed special Halloween visits where the grandkids would trick or treat throughout the campground, enjoy a camp Halloween party, get spooked with a golf cart ride through the haunted woods or a golf cart drive-in movie. A nice campfire and toasted marshmallows were always a perfect end to the evening.

Weekapaug (Westerly), RI, had a very special place in his heart, he loved visiting his brother and family at the cottage they spent much of the summer at for many many years as well as spending 25 summers at the same summer cottage with Cheryl and her family. He also enjoyed spending time with his nephew Bryan and family who have a home just down the street. Summer vacations in Rhode Island were full of wonderful family memories. Norm also was quite the card player and enjoyed trips to Foxwoods Casino where he loved to entertain family by bringing them to the most amazing concerts, circus events and of course, the buffet dinner.

In addition to his parents, Norm is predeceased by his son, Norman Fontaine, Jr (Bingo), his brother Ronald Fontaine and his nephew Denis Fontaine. Norm is survived by and will be deeply missed by: his children, Danielle (Dede) Corpening and her husband Brian, Michelle Fontaine and Tim Fontaine; his step-children who were lucky enough to have him in their lives for 50 years: Leslie Sacharko, Cheryl D’Angelo and her husband Matt and Jeff Sacharko and his wife Julie; grandchildren: Monique Harroun and her husband Rob, Juliette Corpening, Fred Corpening and his wife Brittany, and Nick Corpening and his wife Kharis; Tim Fontaine, Jr., Ashley Fontaine, Tyler Christ, Jamie Sacharko, Alex D’Angelo, Jake D’Angelo, Harrison Sacharko, Nathan D’Angelo, Gabrielle Mounnes and her husband JP, Stephanie Sacharko and Mitchell D’Angelo; great grandchildren: Liliana, Bellamie, Beckett, Taden, Emilia, Colton, Carson, Dylan, Dorothy, Rowan, Reese, Amelia, and Krew; his sister-in-law, Vivian Fontaine and his nephews, Ken Fontaine and his wife Denise, Bryan Fontaine and his wife Cindy and Bruce Fontaine as well as several great nieces and great nephews. Norm also leaves behind his closest and dearest friend, Dick Violette and his wife Ginette–sorry Dick, looks like you won’t be winning that $2 bet at the next Yankee/Red Sox game! Norm’s family would like to extend a very special and heartfelt thank you to Julie, his amazing Hospice nurse, and to family members Cheryl and Julie for all of their kind and compassionate care. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Norm’s name to the American Heart Association.

A period of visitation will be held on November 3, 2022 at New Britain Memorial & Sagarino Funeral Home, 444 Farmington Avenue, New Britain from 4:00-6:00pm with a Celebration of Norm’s life to follow at 6:00pm. For an online memorial, please visit www.NewBritainSagarino.com.