Norman J. McCuin, 63, of Warren, passed away November 30, 2006, at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, NH, with his family at his side. Born in Burlington on October 4, 1943, he was the son of the late Parker "Pat" and Evelyn (McLain) McCuin. He was a 1961 graduate of Waitsfield High School and that same year enlisted in the U.S. Army. He spent 20 years with Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) and in 1983, when he retired after 22 years of service, he was a member of the smallest and most elite force within the Army, one of the country's 46 Master Sergeant's who was a master bomb disposal technician.
His career with the Army included a tour of duty in Vietnam and Korea but it was not limited to only military service. In 1971, in response to a challenge from then President Nixon, the U.S. Justice Department was charged with the creation of a school where civilian law enforcement officers could learn about bomb disposal. Norman was one of the original instructors, chosen from the Army's EOD personnel to design course work and teach classes at the newly formed school at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama. An instructor there from 1970 to 1976, when he left to go to Korea, Norman taught FBI and ATF agents, U.S. Treasury agents as well as state and local law enforcement agents. After returning from Korea, he was assigned to the Joint Services in Washington, D.C., the command that consists of the Army, Air Force, Navy and Marines. He worked with the Joint Services in bomb disposal service until his retirement in 1983.
Norman was a member of the Waitsfield American Legion Post #75 for 36 years, the Mad River Lodge #77 F&AM for 46 years and the Warren Volunteer Fire Department for 17 years.
On October 22, 1985, Norman married the former Rachel Hartshorn in Cyprus Greece.
Norman is survived by his wife, Rachel McCuin of Warren; a son, Patrick McCuin and his wife Mary and granddaughter Emma Rose of Westford, MA; a sister, Donna Rossi and her husband, Joe, of Waterbury; Norman's first wife, Norma (Martin) Scullen of Newport, RI; as well as nieces, nephews and extended family.
A Masonic Service was held at the Perkins-Parker Funeral Home in Waterbury on Tuesday, December 5. A reception followed the visitation at the Waterbury American Legion on Stowe Street in Waterbury. Inurnment with full military honors will take place this spring in the Vermont Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Randolph. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts would be appreciated to the Waitsfield American Legion Post #75, c/o Mr. Fred Messer, 317 Meadow Road, Waitsfield, VT 05673, or to the Mad River Masonic Lodge #77, c/o Mr. Charles Kettles, P.O. Box 448, Waitsfield, VT 05673. To send online condolences or for directions, please visit www.perkinsparker.com.
12/07/2006
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