Norm Ernst Spaulding

Norman E. Spaulding died unexpectedly on October 17, 2023 at his residence in San Jose after quietly battling cancer for many years. He was 82 years old. Norm was born in Oakland, California two days before Christmas in 1940, the only child of Melville and Hermine Spaulding.

He shared his father's passion for railroads and streetcars and from an early age took many photos documenting the history of rail transportation. In 1958, he and his dad took the last Key System streetcar that would ever pass over the Bay Bridge before the tracks were removed.

He left home and joined the Army and while stationed in Germany he explored the rail and streetcar lines throughout Europe. Back in the US he became a very proficient bus operator and toured the country working for a variety of agencies including Greyhound (Eastern and Western divisions), Continental, Trailways (Denver), Atlanta's Metropolitan Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA), Golden Gate Transit and Eastshore Lines (Oakland).

While in Atlanta, he fell in love and married a woman who was one of his regular riders but the union was short lived.

While in the Army, he developed amazing keyboarding skills which led to an abiding interest in computer technology. He worked for PG&E at the start of the word processing era but returned to transportation and joined the Valley Transit Authority in San Jose where he moved from bus operator to a Transit Radio Dispatcher in his twenty year career. After he retired from the VTA, he volunteered at the South Bay Historical Railroad Museum. He especially loved showing children how to operate the model trains.

Norm built a life centered on his varied interests and was self-taught on emerging technologies such as digital photography, computers and video production. He held an Amateur Radio Extra Class license (WA6ZHE) back when Morse code proficiency was a hard to achieve 20 words per minute. He loved long road trips to places like Salt Lake City and would often embark on a moment's notice especially if there was a chance to see a historic train.

Norm leaves behind many friends who shared his interests and comradery. He will always be remembered for his many stories and his intelligence, generosity and kind spirit.

His remains will be interred at the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery close to the historical railroad right of way that bisects the cemetery.