Paul Norman ("Norm") Anderson was born May 4, 1927 to Paul Gerhard and Elizabeth Wood Anderson in Los Angeles, CA and lived his early years in Claremont, CA. When he moved to Laguna Beach with his mother and sister, Mary, he volunteered at the then Capistrano Airport in exchange for flying lessons. At Laguna Beach High School Norm was a talented basketball and football player, where he won All-County awards and was dubbed by his coach as "the best high school end he has seen in a long, long time". Norm was a lifeguard in Laguna Beach where he is remembered to have braved nightmarishly huge surf to save several from drowning. Eager to fly, upon graduation Norm joined the Army Air Corps., but after an honorable discharge switched to the Navy when the opportunity to fly looked better there. Norm served in the Asiatic-Pacific theater during World War II, but the war ended before he got to fly. After the war Norm attended Pasadena Art Center School before transferring to the University of Southern California and, still eager to fly, Norm joined the R.O.T.C. Air Force, joined the Kappa Alpha fraternity, and earned his degree in Commercial Aviation. But along the way he met the even greater love of his life, Beverly Badham, and they married on May 4, 1952 and went on to have five children and 59 years of great adventures. Norm began his career at Alcoa Aluminum Company before switching into life insurance estate planning for the next 40 years, first at Connecticut General and then at The New England, consistently earning top national awards for years. During this time Norm was elected and served on the South Coast Water District board for 22 years, served as manager of Three Arch Bay Community, was active in school board affairs, pulled survivors from burning car crashes on two occasions, and was a popular Boy Scout leader guiding adventures through the Sierras. Norm had a gift for capturing the beauty and intrigues of every day life both in poetry and even more prolifically in oils on canvas. His story-telling abilities are legendary. Norm regularly led his family on adventures to the desert and the mountains discovering geodes, baby foxes, great alpine fishing secrets, and the like. Ever in search of more beautiful ocean vistas, he and Beverly travelled throughout the South Pacific, mesmerized by the drumbeats, beautiful people, and tropical treasures above and below the ocean's surface. But first and foremost Norm was a family man and a tremendous example of love and devotion, finally retiring to take care of Beverly who, despite being afflicted with Parkinsons disease for well over 20 years, has thrived under Norm's unwavering devotion. Norm was a genuine people-lover, with an ever-engaging smile, and always cheerful and positive demeanor under even the most trying circumstances, imparting incredible knowledge, wisdom, support, passion and appreciation. Norm was extraordinarily handsome, gifted, charming, genuine, strong, positive and considerably loved and loving.
Norm passed into His Realm on November 16, 2011 surrounded by his loving family after a swift and decisive stroke. In lieu of flowers please make donations to Boy Scouts of America, and/or Hillsdale College.
His celebration of life will be held at Pacific View Memorial Park Chapel, 3500 Pacific View Dr., Corona Del Mar, CA on Monday Nov. 28 at 2:00 p.m.
P. Norman Anderson was an inspirational Boy Scout Leader for many years in Orange County, and he was a strong advocate for and proponent of a solid liberal arts education including American foundational values.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations in P. Norm Anderson's name to:
BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA - ORANGE COUNTY COUNCIL
http://www.ocbsa.org/support-us/support-us/
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Arrangements under the direction of Pacific View Memorial Park and Mortuary FD1176, Corona Del Mar, CA.
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