Norman L. Major, 91, of Plaistow, NH passed away on Tuesday, April 15, 2025 at his family home in Plaistow, NH where he and his wife had resided for the past 62 years.

He was born on April 9, 1934 in Keene, NH, and was the son of the late Albert G. and Exeline (Joyal) Major.

While attending the University of New Hampshire, Norman met the love of his life, Brenda (Eastman) Major. Norman and Brenda were married on June 17, 1961, in Springfield, VT. Norman and Brenda celebrated 63 years of marriage together.

Norman is survived by his wife, Brenda (Eastman) Major, his sister Caroline Desrosiers of Keene, NH, four sons: Kevin & Alice (Freid) Major of Sandown; Jeffrey & Sandra (Chouinard) Major of Plaistow; Brian & Margaret (Gemmell) Major of Andover, MA; and James Major & Steven Kovats of Wilmington, MA.  He also leaves 10 Grandchildren; 15 Great Grandchildren; and one Great, Great Grandchild.

Norman was predeceased by brother Robert & spouse Edith (Black) of Red Hook, NY, sister Clair & spouse William Perkins of Keene, NH, brother Donald of Waynesboro, TN and brother-in-law Royal Desrosiers of Keene, NH.

Norman was a revered Plaistow resident and New Hampshire statesman, who dedicated his life to public service and the betterment of his town, his state and his country and helping those in need. He leaves behind a legacy that will be remembered for generations. Norm graduated from Keene High School in 1952, and DeVry Technical Institute in 1954. He then proudly volunteered for service in the United States Army from 1955-1958 assigned to the US Army Security Agency (ASA) as a Staff Sergeant. He held a Top Secret/Crypto security clearance and taught electronics repair at Fort Devens.

Following his military service Norm attended the University of New Hampshire graduating in 1961 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering. He was recruited by Bell Telephone Laboratories and sent to earn a Master of Science degree in Electrical Engineering at Northeastern University in 1963.

Norm's entire engineering career (1961-1996) was with Bell Telephone Laboratories, Western Electric and AT&T at the Merrimack Valley Works facility in North Andover, MA. He retired as an engineering manager. Norm held two U.S. Patents that were utilized by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for the manned space station, Skylab.

Norm was known as a hero around town and a household name in state politics for his role as a State Representative from Plaistow, NH from 1996 to 2022. He served the state as the Chairman of the House Ways and Means was recognized for the accuracy of his committee's revenue projections.  He also served as the Chairman of the Rockingham County Legislative Delegation for 15 years and was instrumental in obtaining funding for the New Rockingham County Complex and he received the Josiah Bartlett Libertas Award in 2023. Within the Town of Plaistow, Norm served for many decades on the Board of Selectmen, the Budget Committee, the Board of Adjustments, Time Capsule Committee Chairman, Old Home Day Committee, 225th Anniversary Committee, and as the Assistant Town Moderator for Plaistow and the Timberlane Regional School District. In 1991, the Plaistow Town Report was dedicated to him.

Norm's impact on the Town of Plaistow encompasses many of the municipal operations and volunteer programs. As a Selectman, many of Plaistow's municipal functions operated out of the personal homes of both appointed and elected officials including the Police Chief, Town Clerk, Tax Collector, Building Inspector and Animal Control Officer. He worked with the other Selectmen to renovate the top floor of Town Hall which enabled the District Court to move upstairs and freed up valuable space to locate many of these important services to the first floor. At that time, he was also instrumental in hiring Plaistow's first Town Administrator, a position that has since grown into the Town Manager role that exists today.

55 years ago, Norm had a vision of municipal potable water and fire suppression services. Today, Plaistow has over 11 miles of water mains, 109 water hydrants as well as water reservoirs and holding tanks located across this great community. In the 1970s, he helped to purchase land near the top of Sweet Hill Road for $5,800 which later enabled the construction of a water tower in 2020. In 2021 that water system began supporting residential homes throughout Plaistow.

50 years ago, Norm led the effort to purchase land adjacent to the Plaistow Cemetery which allowed for doubling of that critical asset for the community. Also at that time, Norm helped to establish Plaistow's Highway Department with the purchase of their first Highway Truck. At that time, he asked Road Agent Bud Senter how many miles of roads are in town. He did not know, so the two of them measured and recorded every street and created the first accounting of road assets.

50 years ago, Norm led the effort to purchase the AZ Tool Company on Elm Street for $35,000. The next year, Plaistow moved the town Library from a small alcove in the Town Hall into this newly renovated more spacious accommodation where it remained for 23 years. As a State Representative, Norm facilitated the relocation of the Rockingham District Court into that building when the library moved to its current home on Main Street. In 2021, Plaistow honored Norm when they renamed the Town Hall Annex as The Norman L. Major Building.

Norm also helped transform the Fire Department through the resolution of two major issues. First, they desperately needed access to water.  Although there were many water sources throughout the Town, there was no effective and efficient way to extract that water for public use.  Norm worked with Fire Engineers to create a plan to purchase and install dry hydrants at many of those water sources.  Second, they urgently needed additional space. They were in the current Historical Society Building on Main Street which meant that valuable capital equipment was forced to be stored outside unprotected from the elements. Norm led the effort to purchase the Lagasse Amusement Company property on Elm Street for $100,000 which today is the John D. Fitzgerald Public Safety Complex. To sweeten the deal, Norm obtained a $90,000 federal grant to support that purchase so the total purchase price for Plaistow Taxpayers was $10,000.

He was also very involved within the community. He has been a member of the Lion's Club for 50+ years and as King Lion in 1980, he fundraised and donated Plaistow's first Jaws of Life for the Fire Department. Norm received the Melvin Jones Fellow Award in 2010.  He also was a member of the Knights of Columbus.  He served on the Building Committee in 1964-1965 for the new Holy Angels Catholic Church in Plaistow (now St Luke the Evangelist Parish). He was also an avid runner having completed the Casco Bay Marathon twice.

Scouting had always been an important part of Norm's life where he served in a variety of positions: Council Commissioner; National Jamboree Pioneering Chairman (1988-2012); Packs and Paddles High Adventure Leader and Assistant Scoutmaster. He was awarded the Silver Beaver, Wood Badge and the District Award of Merit.  As a youth, he earned the Ad Altare Dei Catholic Scouting award.  In 1976, he designed and built a 24 ft, 6-sided, log Bon Fire in celebration of our nation's Bicentennial. He developed and led hundreds of youths on backpacking and canoeing excursions in the White Mountains, Green Mountains, Adirondack Mountains, Rocky Mountains and along the Appalachian Trail. In fact, he has climbed all 67 of New England's 4,000-foot mountains.  He took scouting a step further by running the Pioneering Program for the National Scout Jamboree for 24 years where he taught our nation's youth how to use ropes and wood to build bridges, multi-level wooden structures, 15-foot catapults that would launch watermelons, as well as a working merry-go-round. Norm has been instrumental in helping over 100 scouts earn the Eagle Scout rank.

Norm can be described completely and accurately using 12 adjectives. On their own, each of these words exhibit the virtues and values of strength, wisdom, and character. Collectively, these twelve words have been adopted by the Scouting program as their Scout Law. Norm Major has deeply impacted on his Town, State and Country for being Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean and Reverent.

Family and friends are invited to attend calling hours on Wednesday, April 23, 2025 from 4-7pm at Brookside Chapel & Funeral Home, 116 Main Street Plaistow, NH. His funeral service will begin at 9am at the funeral home on Thursday, April 24, 2025. A funeral mass will follow at 10am at St. Luke the Evangelist Church, 8 Atkinson Depot Road, Plaistow. Interment will follow in Plaistow Cemetery, Elm Street, Plaistow. In lieu of Flowers, the family wishes that donations be made to either: the Vic Geary Drop In Center, PO Box 40, Plaistow, NH 03865 or to the Plaistow Fish & Game Club, Inc. PO Box 293, Plaistow, NH 03865