Norman N. Nye

Norman N. Nye

Ashfield, MA - Norman N. Nye of Ashfield, died on December 24, 2025. He was born on October 27, 1926, to Robert and Hazel Nye, and lived on the same "tough end" of Main Street for 99 years. He was predeceased by his wife, Elisabeth Crowell Nye, daughter, Judith A. Nye, and son, William N. Nye. He is survived by son, Timothy R Nye, and daughter Susan E Nye (Todd Gerry); his grandchildren, Patrick Nye Magee (Sarah Morrison), Kaitlin Nye Magee, Nicholas N Nye, and great grandson Cormac M Magee; also his nephews Richard Lilly, Steven Lilly, Barry Nye, and nieces Regina Carmichael and Marylyn Young and their families

Norm had a T-shirt that said, "Local Legend: If you don't know me, you're not from around here", and that was pretty much the case as he lived and worked in the area for nearly a century.

He attended the one room Plain School in town, then Sanderson Academy, class of 1945. Throughout his life he enjoyed sports, and was an outstanding high school pitcher, (winning MVP of the small school Tri-State Championship in 1945). His love for baseball continued as a parent playing with all the neighborhood children, then as a fan of his sons and grandson, and always the Red Sox. He was also a talented golfer and club champion at the Ashfield Community Golf Course, playing there into his 90s. As an avid outdoorsman, he hunted and fished for most of his life, and was very knowledgeable about the area's terrain and wildlife. For 83 years he was a member of the Ashfield Rod and Gun Club.

As a teenager he worked at Ted Day's store on Main Street, then later for C.W. Ward trucking and for the Ashfield Highway Department, before joining his father and brother in the family business, (R.H. Nye Inc.) where he worked as a Master Plumber until retirement. His claim was that if a house in this area had plumbing, his fingerprints were on it. Contrary to the stereotypical N.E. Yankee, he loved meeting new people as they moved to town, and was a friend to nearly everyone he met. In recent years he made the acquaintance of many, by simply passing time on his front porch and greeting the pedestrians on Main Street. He saw many changes in the town and world in his lifetime, and he was always interested in it all.

Per his wish, services will be private. Anyone wishing to make a donation in his memory may support either of his passions: Ashfield Baseball c/o Eben LaBelle, 40 Stroheker Rd, Ashfield MA 01330; or Ashfield Community Golf Course, P.O. Box 454, Ashfield, MA 01330.