Norman Charles Wakely

Falmouth, Maine — Norman C. Wakely died Oct. 24, 2016, in Portland. He was born in Lisbon Falls, Maine, on May 7, 1927, to Charles Jack and Genieva Trufant Wakely. Graduating from Lisbon Falls High School in 1945, Norman attended the University of Maine for one year before enlisting in the Army from September 1946 to January 1948. During that time he was stationed in Sundai, Japan, where he oversaw the Service Library. After completing his commitment to the Army, he re-entered the field of education as a sophomore at the University of Maine. After graduating in 1951, he accepted a teaching position at Cardigan Mountain School in Canaan, N.H., and was married to Beverly Bradford of Braintree, Mass., on June 14, 1952.

In 1954, Norman left Cardigan to enter Columbia University’s Teachers College and received his Master of Science Degree in Education Administration in June 1955. During 1955-56, Norman taught at Valley Stream High School in Long Island and continued post-graduate work at Teachers College. In the summer of 1956, Norman ran a private summer camp in Harbor Point, Michigan, which was followed by his return to Cardigan Mountain School in September of 1956 to serve as Assistant Headmaster. During that period he also served as Co-Director of Summer School, Head of the Curriculum, Chairman of Scholastic Standards Committee, Administrative Advisor of School Government, and Ski and Waterfront Instructor. He was appointed Headmaster of Cardigan Mountain School in September 1963.

During the years of 1963 until his retirerment in 1989, Norman served on multiple local boards, including Alice Peck Day Hospital, Montshire Musium of Science, Elementary Schools Heads Association, and was one of the directors of The Elementary Center of NYC. He was also very active in the Lebanon Rotary Club (where he became a Paul Harris Fellow), a 25 year member of CASE, and belonged to Internationally Minded Schools, Orton Society, New England Reading Association, Phi Delta Kappa, and Kappa Delta Pi.

After retiring from Cardigan in 1989, Norman and Beverly moved to Lyme, N.H. Norman took much enjoyment from an association with Dartmouth College where he taught cross-country skiing, worked at Alumni Gymnasium, and supported Dartmouth athletics. He served as interim Co-Head for Crossroads Academy from 1999 to 2001 and developed his own business of Grant Brook Educational Services.

Norman leaves behind his wife of 64 years, Beverly; his twin sister Norma Cowan; sister-in-law Doreen Wakely, children, Charles Wakely, Mary Laturnau, Jonathan Wakely, and Melissa Christie; sons-in-law Herman Laturnau and Angus Christie; daughter-in-law Betsy Wakely; grandchildren Alison and her husband Jason Antunovich, Lindsey Laturnau, Brad and his wife Kristyn Wakely, Tim Wakely, Scott Wakely, Samantha Wakely, Angus, Andrew, and Ian Christie, and great-granddaughter Elizabeth Wakely.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Norman Wakely Scholarship Fund at Cardigan Mountain School, Canaan, N.H., Crossroads Academy, Lyme, N.H., or City Center Ballet of Lebanon, N.H.

There will not be any services per Norman’s request. There will be a celebration of his life in the spring on “a beautiful day in New Hampshire” at Cardigan Mountain School, the time and date to be determined.