John Norton Obituary

John Lockwood Norton

January 10, 1934 - February 6, 2015

John passed away from Alzheimer's. He was born in Orange, New Jersey. He graduated from Phillip Exeter Academy, Princeton and M.I.T. John was employed by TRW/Northrup Grumman as a software engineer for 55 years.

He is survived by his loving wife, Susann, His sisters-in-law Pamela (James) Jones, Mary Ann Leonard) Koberg; brother-in-law Albert Hinkle; mother-in-law, Mary Hinkle; and many nieces and nephews, also great nieces and nephews.

A special thank you to Hermie Mamaradlo, John's caregiver/companion.

A celebration of John's life will be held at a later date.

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

Published by Daily Breeze from Feb. 12 to Feb. 13, 2015.

Memories and Condolences
for John Norton

13 Entries

Katherine Poehlmann

February 21, 2024

I just learned of John's passing so please forgive the delay in expressing my sincere condolences to the family of a truly remarkable man. I worked on various space projects at TRW in the late 1960s where John was called in as a reviewer. A high point in my career there was finding a coveted Gold Star that John had affixed to a program I had written. After clipping it off the front page, I kept it under the plastic cover of my desk blotter for many years. I still have it. It's a reminder of a brilliant, dedicated engineer who was kind and witty in person but ruthless and intolerant when it came to ferreting out errors. Just the kind of guy you'd want on your team when a tiny mistake can mean life or death (e.g., the Apollo astronauts) and/or millions of dollars (e.g., Hubble Space Telescope). John was a true hero and a national treasure. Not just one of the good guys -- one of the BEST guys. I can imagine God awarding a Gold Star to John saying, "Well done, good and faithful servant."

Matthew Clark

January 1, 2021

My father worked with him in Houston on the Apollo project, and I played chess with him as a child. He was a wonderful guy and am glad to have met a legend in computer science.

CHARLES SHORTER

February 6, 2020

John was absolutely brilliant. He made so many significant contributions to TRW and the country. He was an outstanding person and a dear friend
Chuck Shorter

Hans Kuehl

February 15, 2015

My deepest sympathy to John's family. I have not had contact with John since 1955, when we both graduated from Princeton University. We were in many classes together because we were both electrical engineering majors. Although I was not a close friend of John's, it was already evident that he was perhaps the most brilliant member of our electrical engineering class.
Since we both lived in Southern California for many years, I regret that we didn't have closer contact.

Bob Valleni

February 13, 2015

Please accept my deepest sympathy to John's family, friends and colleagues. We are the fortunate people who knew John.
He had such a brilliant mind and the ability to use it for the benefit of his mission. The Hubble Space Telescope Program would never have achieved its scientific successes so early in its mission without John's instrument notebooks. It was his mental ability and persistence to excellent that led us to understand how to operate these initial complex instruments. The scientists may not know it, but they owe their findings to John.
I am also honored by receiving 1 and a half gold star stickers from John. It was a pleasure to be his colleague.

Jeanette Morrison

February 13, 2015

The high point of my own career at TRW/NG was getting one of those coveted gold star stickers from John on a document I published. It sounds silly to outsiders, but it was truly the highest honor anyone at the company could achieve. He and my dad were the smartest men I've ever known.

February 13, 2015

I am so sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you at this time.

February 12, 2015

John was an amazing person. He made my time at TRW memorable. Thank you, John.

Val Reece

Chris Purcell

February 12, 2015

Very sorry to hear of John's passing. I worked with him, on and off, for many years. He was a multi-talented creative scientist who made many ground-breaking contributions to TRW's capabilities and to our national security in trying times. There were and will be few like him.

Bob Strand

February 12, 2015

With deepest sympathies and respect for John.

Charles Shorter

February 12, 2015

Those of us that worked with John knew what a special man he was--so brilliant, so clever, so dedicated to the job and company and such a hard working man. When he accepted an assignment it was also completed perfectly--often John would work around the clock to finish an important job. Unique, individual but yet a great team man. We all loved, admired and appreciated John. God Bless you John

Jerry Klayman

February 12, 2015

Although I knew John more by his outstanding reputation than personnally, I am saddened by his passing. Fifty five years at TRW/Northrop Grumman! In itself an extraordinary accomplishment!

Jerry Klayman

Edward Mills

February 12, 2015

John was a very successful student at Phillips Exeter. That he was a smart, competent and valued man is indicated by the fact that he worked for his Fortune 500 defense industry employer for 55 years. RIP John. Ed Mills, PEA 1951

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