John Norton Jr.

John Norton, beloved husband, stepfather, and grandfather, passed away peacefully after a long and full life marked by wit, warmth, curiosity, and deep affection for family. He was born on April 20, 1932, in Troy, New York — a place he fondly and humorously referred to as “the mother of urban decay.”

John was the son of Mary T. Malo and a proud graduate of Catholic Central High School, Class of 1950 (or 1951, as he liked to say when memory and modesty competed). In September 1951, he enlisted in the United States Air Force and served honorably during the Korean War. His years of service remained among his proudest and most oft-told memories, and he delighted in sharing stories from that time — always with his trademark sparkle and punchline. John was honorably discharged in 1955.

Following his military service, John began a long and successful career with IBM in Washington, D.C., where he worked until his retirement in 1990. His intellect, discipline, and dry humor left a lasting impression on colleagues and friends alike.

In 1980, John met the love of his life, Lucia Cardinale Orgeira, and the two were married by Justice of the Peace in December 1981 at Lucia’s home in Arlington, Virginia, where they continued to live together for more than four decades. John remained utterly devoted to Lucia — his admiration and affection for her never waned.

John is survived by his beloved wife, Lucia, his son, Matthew Norton, from his first marriage, as well as by his devoted stepchildren and their spouses, Carolina and Alejandro Bonino, Isabel and George Galdiz, and Robert and Kate Orgeira, and his two grandchildren and nine step-grandchildren.He is also cherished by extended family and countless friends in both the United States and Argentina.

After retirement, John and Lucia spent many joyful years in Alcorta, Sante Fe, Argentina, Lucia’s hometown, where they were embraced by a large and loving family. Their home was often the center of laughter, long dinners, and lively singing — occasions that captured John’s generous heart and Irish love of celebration.

In Arlington, too, John and Lucia built a full and joyful life, hosting dinners, brunches, birthdays, anniversaries, and countless evenings filled with conversation, friendship, and laughter. John was a deeply involved grandfather — driving to practices, attending games, and splashing in the pool with the little ones. He loved to join or start the fun, often recruiting a grandchild as his accomplice for a quick errand that almost always ended with ice cream — his favorite food group.

John loved to play tennis and, even as he grew older, followed the sport closely. He was also an avid newspaper reader, always interested in politics and world events. Conversations with John were lively, informed, and often filled with stories from his younger years — shared with humor and perspective that only a lifetime of engagement could bring.

At home, John found joy in gardening and, in recent years, birdwatching from his favorite window, where a birdfeeder attracted cardinals — his favorite visitors. A master of Sunday dinners, John was a terrific cook of select, perfected dishes — especially “the bird” at Thanksgiving, complete with dressing, mashed potatoes, and giblet gravy, as well as his special pasta sauce, recipes he proudly drilled into the next generation. He had little patience for what he called “rabbit food” (salad), preferring hearty fare, good company, and lively conversation. He was the evening’s entertainer, famous for his dad jokes and quotable quotes — many of which still echo in his family’s kitchens today.

John also enjoyed the camaraderie of a close-knit circle of friends who affectionately called themselves “The Men’s Club.” They gathered for conversation at Georgetown’s favorite watering holes and played tennis at Volta Park. Many of those lifelong friends celebrated John’s 90th birthday.

John embraced his Irish heritage wholeheartedly. Each St. Patrick’s Day was cause for celebration and song — especially when he serenaded family and friends with heartfelt renditions of Danny Boy and Galway Bay.

John will be remembered for his quick wit, his loyalty, his fierce devotion to those he loved, and the joy he brought to every room he entered. His humor, stories, and songs will echo through the generations he inspired — a legacy of laughter, love, and life fully lived.