Norman B. Peck Jr.

Surrounded by family, Norman B. Peck Jr. of Niantic passed away peacefully on Wednesday September 17th at the age of 96 at the Lawrence and Memorial Hospital. Born in New London, CT on May 1, 1929 to Norman and Esther Peck, Norm married Ann (Bonafede) Peck on August 11, 1951. They shared a full life together for nearly seventy years.

Norman was predeceased by his mother and father, his sister Anne Calkins and his wife Ann B. Peck. He is survived by his brother Thomas O. Peck and his three children: son Norman B. Peck III, wife Patricia Avery and their children Tyler Engleberg, Hayley (Adam) McCaffery and great-granddaughter Miller; son David A. Peck, wife Nina and their children Sarah (Harper) Williams, LCDR Charlie (Danielle) Peck and Dave Peck; and a daughter Diane P. Rothman, husband Peter and their children Matthew and Nicholas Rothman.

A 1947 graduate of The Bulkeley School in New London, Norm attended his 78th class reunion only 12 days before his death. This was also slated to be the last reunion for this beloved local school.

Norm was actively involved in civic affairs. He was the past president of the East Lyme Historical Society for 27 years, devoting that time to the preservation of the Thomas Lee House. He was past chairman of the East Lyme Planning Board, VP of the Chamber of Commerce of Southeastern CT, a lifelong member of the Niantic Fire Department, a member of the East Lyme Charter Revision Committee, instrumental in the formation of the Southeastern CT Council of Government, and a member of the East Lyme Library Association. As a history buff with particular interest in the Civil War, he was a member of the Connecticut 5th Infantry, a re-enactment group, where he attended both the 125th and 135th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg. Norm served in the U.S. Naval Reserve.

After a sixty-four-year career with Smith Insurance, Norm retired on his 89th birthday on May 1, 2018. He served as a President and owner of Smith, previously one of the largest independently owned agencies in Connecticut. Customer care and employee concern were always his focus.

Norm was passionate about his hobbies. He was a past Commodore of the Niantic Bay Yacht Club with extensive involvement in the development and growth of the Club throughout his life. He skippered his Atlantic Class sailboat to 16 national titles from 1973 until securing his last one at the age of 81. He was a member of the Off Soundings Club and won several Club events with his family aboard his Morgan 36T, the Spirit. Norm inspired his children to sail and ski. The family would race boats together until he was nearly 90 years old. At the age of 35, encouraged by his sister, Norm became an avid skier and continued skiing with his family and friends until age 85, primarily at Magic Mountain, Vermont, where his extended family spent many happy winter weekends at the family ski house. His love of sailing and skiing bridged the generations, providing endless enjoyment and cherished memories for himself, children and grandchildren. He will be missed.

A funeral service will be held at 10:45 a.m. Saturday, September 27th, at St. Ann’s Episcopal Church in Old Lyme. Interment will follow at Union Cemetery in Niantic. There are no calling hours. A special thank you to Norm’s medical doctors, particularly Dr. Constantine Manthous for his outstanding care and counsel during the final years. In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made in memory of Norman and Ann Peck, payable to: East Lyme Scholarship Association, P.O. Box 190, Niantic, CT 06357.