Stephen J Plank

Steve Plank passed away peacefully on June 17, 2025 at Ramona Senior Lodge holding the
hands of his wife, Judy and son, Derek. While he spent his final years in San Diego, California,
his history lies in Norwich, Connecticut.
Steve grew up in the historic Bradford-Huntington House at 16 Huntington Lane, one of the
oldest homes in Norwich built in 1691. After a few years of high school at Norwich Free
Academy, Steve ventured on to Loomis School to prepare for college. He played football,
wrestled, and ran track during his high school years and then switched to rugby when he
attended Dartmouth College. At Dartmouth, Steve was Class of 1959 and became a member
of Psi Upsilon Fraternity where he met his life-long friend Wayne French, who stayed in touch
with Steve through his final day.
Upon graduation from Dartmouth, Steve decided on a career in Life Insurance. Everyone he
interviewed with sold the business by telling him how much money he could make, until Bill
Griffin from Northwestern Mutual Life told him it is a "Wonderful business where you can help
other people." He instantly decided Northwestern Mutual was the company for him!
While he joined NML right after graduation, he decided to serve his country and spend a few
years as a Supply Corps Officer in the United States Navy. LTJG Plank was deployed aboard
the destroyer USS John W. Weeks, creating some of his fondest memories. When his father
died at a young age in 1962, Steve transferred to a submarine base in New London, CT so that
he could help is widowed mother and was later discharged in 1963.
He returned to Norwich and aggressively pursued his life insurance career "helping others"
with Northwestern Mutual. He purchased another prominent historic home in Norwich, the
Olmstead-Lathrop House / Lathrop Manor. Part of this home's rich history is that Benedict
Arnold lived there while apprenticing at the apothecary shop across the street.
Steve took his first real vacation in 1971 to Club Med in Martinique where he met Judy Purcell
of Greenwich, CT. He took her on a date to a mongoose fight, fell in love, and asked her if she
likes old houses. They married 3 months later and Judy left her job at Life Magazine in NYC
and helped him restore the Lathrop Home. In 1972, they had their only child, Derek.
During his career, Steve served on many boards and held numerous prestigious titles like
President of Eastern Connecticut Life Underwriter Association and President of NML District
Agent's Association, but one that was dear to his heart was President of Norwich Rotary Club
in 1993-1994. The walls of all of his offices including the walls of his final bedroom at Ramona
Senior Lodge were decorated with Rotary plaques in honor of an international club that proudly
serves others.
As a District Agent for NML, Steve purchased another historic property in Norwich, the former
Lord's Tavern built in 1760. He restored this building at 86 Town Street and turned it into an
office where he mentored young agents like long-time local NML agent Jim Daly.
As he neared retirement, he sold the office building and set up a home office in a portion of
Lathrop Manor that was used as an apartment. Once he actually retired, he and Judy moved to
Fallbrook, CA to be close to Derek in San Diego.
There will not be an official memorial service. Steve's ashes are being spread on August 7,
2025 in Lowthorpe Meadows on what would have been his 90th birthday. At one point he
served as President of Lowthorpe Meadows Association, a group that manages the 20 plus
acre piece of land behind Lathrop Manor that was gifted to Norwich to be "forever wild" by its
former residents the Gilman sisters in 1905. He will be accompanied by his two beloved
Golden Retrievers Molly and Charger and they will join Maudie and Nugget, who are currently
there.
May they rest in peace together.