Father Norman Matthew Whalen

WHALEN, Father Norman Matthew, entered into eternal rest on February 27, 2008 at age 87. He was born in Perth Amboy, New Jersey on June 14, 1920 and completed high school (with honors) in 1936. After high school, Norman worked at a metallurgical plant, joined the New Jersey National Guard and enrolled in night classes. Following one year of college, Norman joined the Army Air Corps in 1941. Upon graduating from Navigator School in Monroe, Louisiana, he received his commission as a Second Lieutenant. Norman was assigned to the 98th Bomb Group in North Africa where he participated in numerous combat missions including Operation Tidal Wave, a low level B-24 bombing raid over Axis power oil refineries in Ploesti, Romania. After Norman's 36th mission, he was assigned to Mountain Home Air Field, Idaho, where he trained cadets in flight navigation until September, 1944. Because he felt compelled to return to his comrades still fighting in Europe, he requested reassignment to the 98th Bomb Group now operating from a captured airfield in Lecce, Italy. Norman's request was approved and he flew an additional 39 bombing raids with his original unit. For his heroism in combat, Norman was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, Distinguished Flying Cross, and eleven Air Medals. Major Norman Whalen was honorably discharged from the Army Air Corps in 1946 and entered seminary in Baltimore, Maryland where, in 1954, he was ordained as a priest in the Roman Catholic Church. Father Whalen faithfully served the Catholic Church in the Arizona towns of Tucson, Tombstone, Patagonia and Benson. While working as a historian for the Diocese of Tucson in 1960, Father Whalen was instrumental in leading the preservation of the Calabazas Mission, constructed in 1756 and added to the Tumacacori National Historic Park in 1990. Father Whalen dedicated the last half of his life to research and teaching. By mid-1960, he had earned his Master of Arts degrees in History and Anthropology. In 1971, Father Whalen completed his PhD in Anthropology (Archaeology) from the University of Arizona. In that same year, he accepted a professorship with Texas State University (TSU) in San Marcos, Texas. For the next three decades, Dr. Norman Whalen devoted himself to teaching about ancient cultures of the American Southwest, Europe, Africa, Asia and the Middle East. During his 31- year academic tenure at TSU, Dr. Whalen conducted fifteen expeditions on the Arabian Peninsula tracing early human migration routes of Africa across Arabia. Dr. Whalen had a kind spirit and was always approachable to anyone. He would freely invite students into his office, conversing with them about the world he found through his own experiences. He took special interest in talking about the importance of the Second World War and its most important legacy, American freedom. "Norm's" campus office reflected his eclectic interests with its various memorabilia including an Indian war bonnet, ancient pottery and stone tools, colonial spinning wheels, and a vast assortment of intriguing artifacts collected during his extensive travels. At the remarkable age of 83, he completed his final archaeological expedition. Shortly afterward, Father/Professor Norman Matthew Whalen retired to Tucson, Arizona, where he enjoyed and delighted numerous friends and colleagues who keenly feel today his passing. Mass will be offered 1:30 P.M. Tuesday, March 4, 2008 at St. Augustine Cathedral, 192 S. Stone Ave. followed by entombment in Holy Hope Mausoleum. Visitation will begin at the Cathedral at 6:30 P.M. Monday, March 3, 2008. Arrangements by BRING'S MEMORIAL CHAPEL. 236 S. Scott.