Robert Norling Obituary

Robert Norling of East Concord, managing editor of the Concord Monitor from 1968-77, died at home on Wed. Jan. 6, 2021. He was 96 years old.

He was born Nov. 7, 1924 in Newburyport, Mass., son of Knuth and Julia (Rochon) Norling, grew up in Amesbury, Mass., and lived in East Concord since 1968.

He leaves two daughters, Joanna (Jess) Sanders and Maria (Brian) Giles, daughter-in-law Lynn Craggy; grandchildren Lindsay Norling, Jake Norling (Dani), and Cadence Giles; great-grandchildren Sofiya and Alexander; and a sister, Eleanor Yates. He was predeceased by his wife, Agorita (Efstathiou), by his son Jon, and by his brother Paul.

After graduation from Boston University in 1950, Mr. Norling was in newspaper work for 39 years, first as a reporter at the Haverhill (Mass.) gazette, and then as a reporter and city editor of the Portsmouth Herald from 1951-64. He was managing editor of the Staunton (Va.) Leader from 1964-68, and then managing editor of the Concord Monitor from 1968-1977. He went to the Boston Globe in 1977 and retired in 1989 as head makeup editor and late night editor.

Mr. Norling was president of the New England Associated Press News Executives in 1974 and the New England Society of Newspaper Editors in 1975-76. He was a 1964 Pulitzer Prize nominee and was cited by national AP Managing Editors for his coverage of the loss of the submarine USS Thresher in 1963 and the Navy inquiry into the disaster.

In World War II he was a Navy signalman in North Atlantic and North Russian convoys, also in Southwest Pacific operations and the Philippines. He was a member of Veterans for Peace and the US Navy Armed Guard Veterans of WW II.

Mr. Norling was a former Concord Ward 10 ballot inspector and print shop volunteer at Canterbury Shaker Village.

Donations in his memory may be made to Concord Regional Visiting Nurse Association, Hospice House, PO Box 1797, Concord, NH 03302-1797.

A Memorial Gathering will be held at a later date.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Concord Montior on Jan. 17, 2021.

Memories and Condolences
for Robert Norling

7 Entries

Tony Blasi, sportswriter/editor

January 27, 2021

My deepest condolences to the Norling family. I met Mr. Norling at the Boston Globe as a Northeastern University intern. I ran the photo cutlines down to the composing room. We would have some incredible conversations each night. I found him to be a genuine and caring human being. He spoke with pride about print journalists and said TV was mostly made up of news readers, and he never let me forget that. For a man who saw the horrors of Word War II, he had a great sense of humor. I never forgot him. He wrote a recommendation for me when I left the Globe.

Bob Kievra

January 24, 2021

As a young journalism coop student working the 4 to midnight shift at the Globe, I had the pleasure of Bob's company many evenings. Through his words and deeds, he fostered my love for editing and the newspaper industry, often while standing side by side in the composing room. He was efficient, disciplined and no nonsense but always found time to pass his love for the profession along to the next generation. RIP.

Mike Casey

January 24, 2021

Mr. Norling,
Sir, I would just like to say thank you for your service and sacrifice for our Country when you served with the USN during WW II and for being a member of the Greatest Generation. And to your Family and loved ones, I wish to extend my deepest sympathy.

Fair Winds And Following Seas

Judith Allen-Efstathiou

Planted Trees

Charles Mansbach

January 18, 2021

I’m very sorry for your loss.

It was was a privilege and a pleasure to work with Bob at the Globe. He was the steadiest and most diligent of editors, a wise and knowledgeable colleague, a considerate friend to all. I have many fond memories of our years together.

Charles Mansbach
Waban MA

Tom Mulvoy

January 17, 2021

I worked closely with Bob Norling at the Boston Globe for all his years on staff as the closing editor of the paper up to 3 o’clock in the morning for some 3,000 editions. Those who, like me, left before him in the wee hours knew that there was a pro in charge of making the final edition as complete as possible should breaking stories stir the news wires or the streets of Boston.
Add to that the fact that he chose to drive the 70 or so miles down to Boston and back to Concord every night -“An hour and a bit going 60,” he said - and you have the definition of a deeply committed newspaperman. His record before joining the Globe adds a shine to that identity.
My condolences to his family on the loss of their good and sturdy patriarch.
- Tom Mulvoy, retired Globe managing editor.

Don and Bonnie Gott

January 17, 2021

Bob and Rita were our wonderful neighbors for many years and we are very sad to learn of Bob's passing. He was kind and smart and funny and he will be missed by many. Our condolences to Maria and Joanna and the rest of his family. He will be missed.

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