Norman R. Lessard – Husband, Father and Grandfather (73)
Norman R. Lessard, Lieutenant Commander, Naval Aviator (ret.), passed away on November 30th with his wife of 31 years, Cindy, and loving family by his side. His friends and family remember Norm as a good and kind man who lived life with honesty and fairness. As a boy growing up in Shrewsbury, MA, eldest son of Raymond and Blanche Lessard, Norm developed a love of hockey and rowing and dreamed of one day becoming a pilot. So, after attending Wentworth Institute of Technology and at the age of 20, he joined the United States Navy and realized his goal of becoming a Naval aviator. Known by the call-sign "Lizard," Norm flew his A-1 Skyraider off the U.S.S. Ranger and the U.S.S. Intrepid aircraft carriers during the Vietnam War. For his years of distinguished service, LCDR Lessard was honored with 13 Air Medals, 3 Navy Commendation Medals, the National Defense Service Medal, the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, the Galloway Cross Ribbon and the Vietnam Service Medal. He was depicted as a character in the movie, Rescue Dawn, which told the story of Norm's fellow pilot's escape from a POW camp during the Vietnam War. After retiring from the Navy out of Lemoore (CA) Naval Air Station, Norm moved to Florida and went on to a successful career in the private sector working at Hughes Aircraft and later retiring from its successor company, Raytheon Corp. Despite his best efforts, Norm failed at retirement - the only thing he had ever set his mind to which he didn't achieve. He spent the final 14 years of his life running his own business, donating his time and boundless energy to numerous causes, including Hospice (where he worked primarily with veterans), Habitat for Humanity and Sunrise Kiwanis of Sanford, and organizing reunions for his Navy squadron, the VA-145 "Swordsmen". Norm loved to travel and he and Cindy had seen much of the world together, recently returning to Vietnam, traveling from Moscow to Beijing on the Trans-Siberian Railroad and visiting Australia, Ireland and Kenya where he went on his first safari. A widower, Norm met his first wife Sharon while stationed in Alameda, CA. Norm and Sharon were married for 17 years and had five sons before she lost her battle to cancer at age 35. Through Sharon, he became a loving member of the John and Sally Smith Family. Norm is survived and loved by his wife, Cindy, his sons, Norman (Jr.), Casey, Brady, Ryan, Patrick, Bob and Drew, his daughter, Anna, their respective spouses, and his sisters, Claudette White and Michele Scholl. Norm was also blessed with 23 grandchildren, whom he loved and adored. They'll remember their Pepé's kind and gentle spirit and his laugh. A great example and a just man, LCDR Lessard flew straight and level to the end.

Should friend desire memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of the Comforter at:

http://www.hospiceofthecomforter.org/