Obituary.
Norman Wrigglesworth. 1926 – 2014
Man on a Mission passes away. His Legacy lives on.
Known the world over as ‘Storming’ Norman, this colourful Richmond character and WWII veteran, activist and philanthropist passed peacefully away on Oct. 10 just before the midnight hour after a couple of months in Richmond Hospital.
His early years were tougher than most, losing his mother at three-years-old and then his father was killed on the railway when Norman was nine. Orphanages followed for Norman and his four siblings and by 14 he was making his own way in the world.
Joining the Royal Navy at barely 17 he was off to war in 1943.
Canada became Norman’s home in 1952 and, after checking out Australia for a couple of years, he settled in Richmond as his life long home.
A carpenter by trade, helping to construct the Massey Tunnel, his retirement years were anything but restful.
Activism became his life passion after his doctor told Norman in the 70s with a health risk looming, he’d better quit smoking or die.
A literalist, Norman picked up his new mission.
Little did ‘big tobacco’ know what this medical doctor unleashed on them and the world?
TOPCAT (To Protect Children against Tobacco) director Norman knew know bounds, building the world’s largest (according to Ripley’s Believe it or Not) non-smoking sign on his garage roof at his No. 1 Road home. (Now demolished).
Joining Toastmaster International at 60, and a traveling bicycle club at 65, he biked on four continents.
Then he traveled the world and all the seven seas (once a sailor), supporting Holland America on the way. Music and square dancing rounded out his “spare” time!
All that, and his love of civic politics and city council meetings, running five times for city councillor, failing on all attempts; “learning the ropes,” Norman called it.
Along with scores of city council visits he raised issues, mostly related to waste and safety.
Three different mayors were sparring partners for Storming Norman over three decades.
Not bad for a depression era orphaned kid from a village in Yorkshire, who never got to high school?
Predeceased by his wife, Shirley, and all his siblings, he was recently awarded the prestigious honour of a Queen Elizabeth II, Silver Jubilee Medal for services rendered to his community.
As a philanthropist, he received many recognition awards including a Doctor of Philanthropy from the Richmond Hospital Foundation in 2014.
With all that, his famous line describes his greatest mission, when meeting new people he would announce, “I’ve got the biggest butt in the world, it’s on my garage roof. Believe it or not! You don’t smoke, do you?” he would admonish.
A memorial service and celebration of life will be held at the Salvation Army Community Church at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 10 at 8280 Gilbert Rd.
Donations will be gratefully received by those wishing to contribute to Richmond Branch Salvation Army, Richmond Hospital Foundation, The Blind Institute and Canadian Cancer Agency.
