Norman O. Aamodt Sr.

1927 - 2025

Norman O. Aamodt, Sr.

September 18, 1927 - January 14, 2025

Raleigh, North Carolina - Norman O Aamodt, Sr., 97, passed away peacefully on Tuesday January 14th 2025 in Raleigh, NC.

Norman's beloved parents and his wife, Marjorie, to whom he was wed for 68 years, passed before him. He is survived his son Norman O. Aamodt (Rebecca) of Raleigh, NC and their children Evan (Nicole), Jonah, Rachel & Evan; daughter Susan Folta (Corey) and their children Zachary, Lacey (Stephanie) & Ben; his son Jason Aamodt and his daughter Daisy and great-grandchildren Ayla and Ayden.

Born to Norwegian immigrants on Staten Island, NY, Norman earned a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering at Stevens Institute of Technology. Upon graduation he joined the Technical Scientific Staff at the Bell Labs in Murray Hill, NJ. Norman's research solved a number of problems relating to wires and insulation, earning patents for the innovations he spearheaded.

Norman met his wife at Bell Labs where she was one of the first women scientists. After a brief courtship, they were married in 1954. With the help of his father, Norman built a magnificent home in Bernardsville, NJ for Marjorie where they welcomed their first two children.

In the early '60's Marjorie and Norman moved to Chester County, PA. where they created one of the first organic farms in the nation, helping to conceive some of the methods of organic farming that are used today. If you visited the farm, Norman would take great pride in showing how the soil of his farm was alive and growing. Over two decades Norman and Marjorie built a viable organic beef business known as Snowhill Farm.

Norman gave a great deal of his time to the service of his community. He served as a Chester County Commissioner and as the Republican Party Chairman for Chester County. Norman unsuccessfully ran for congress in the 1970s.

In the early 80's Norman and Marjorie intervened in the restart proceedings for the undamaged reactor at Three Mile Island. As citizen scientists, and with the help and support of their community, they improved the methods of nuclear operator training, improved the warning systems for farmers, and scientifically demonstrated the health impacts of the nuclear accident.

In the mid-80s Norman and Marjorie moved to Lake Placid, NY., a special place to them because as newlyweds they vacationed with their Bell Labs co-workers at the camps on Lower Saranac Lake. Later in life Norman and Marjorie would camp on the lakes together for weeks at a time.

From the Raritan River, which he frequented with his boyhood friend Junior Rusheye, to the rolling hills of his farm in Chester County, to the mountains, streams and lakes of the Adirondacks, Norman's spirit has always been drawn to nature. You could always (and might still) find him along a stream, fly rod in hand – his cob pipe firmly clenched between his teeth. Norman found peace along the banks of a stream, often spending more time making new friends than catching fish. In all of it, Norman gracefully surrounded himself in nature, fitting perfectly.

Norman's celebration of life will be held in Lake Placid in late spring or summer.

Brown-Wynne, 300 Saint Mary's Street, Raleigh, is serving the Aamodt family.