Norman D. Craig

Norman D. Craig, 83, of Ridgefield, husband of Elsie (Fossi) Craig, died on Saturday evening, January 29th, 2011 at Ridgefield Crossing. Mr. Craig was born in Bronxville, NY, December 6, 1927 son of Ross MacKenzie and Helen (Keirnan) Craig. Raised in Scarsdale, NY, he attended Scarsdale schools graduating in the Class of 1946. Immediately upon graduation for high school, Mr. Craig enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps. serving from 1946 to 1948. He later attended watch making school. He entered the jewelry business in 1950 joining his mother in the Craig Jewelry Store, Ridgefield. Active in the Ridgefield community as a businessman and community leader, His community service includes incorporator of the Visiting Nurse Association and the Boys and Girls Club, trustee of the Family Y, assistant chief and president of the Volunteer Fire Department, director of the old Teen Center, Boy Scout scoutmaster, president and founding member of Kiwanis, a founder with Clarence Korker of the Chamber of Commerce, a member of Knights of Columbus, and sponsor of many Little League and other youth sports teams. All this activity helped earn him the Chamber of Commerce Public Service Award in 1986 and Kiwanis Citizen of the Year Award in 1990 - and the nickname, "Stormin' Norman." Mr. Craig has the rare distinction of having been a member of both the Democratic and Republican Town Committees and serving as chairman. He started out a Republican, and served on that town committee and on the Board of Tax Review. A Democrat during the administration of his brother-in-law, First Selectman Louis J. Fossi, he served on various town study committees, was a delegate to the 1978 Democratic State Convention. Later in life, he returned to the Republican fold, and in 1998, won a seat on the Board of Finance. Mr. Craig also served as a Justice of the Peace. A member of St. Mary Parish, Ridgefield, Mr. Craig was a former member of the advisory board, fundraising committee and an acolyte. Active in the life of Immaculate High School, Danbury he served on the original fund raising committee, former president of the parent's club and was a recipient of the lifetime achievement award. He was a member of the Marquette Council Knights of Columbus of Ridgefield and was a past grand knight as well as a member of the American Legion, Marine Corps. League and a member of the annual Memorial Day parade committee. In addition to his wife of fifty-nine years, he is survived by a son, William D. Craig and his wife, Susan of Brookfield; two daughters, Karin Craig Petrini and her husband, Robert of Danbury and Lori L. Corsak and her husband, David of New Milford; a sister, Joan Hadden of Newton Square, PA; a sister in law, Barbara Craig of Mt. Kisco, NY; eight grandchildren, Jennifer (Kevin) Pink, Ross MacKenzie Craig, Kimberly Craig, Thomas (Emily) Petrini, Dr. Nicholas Petrini, Michael Petrini, Matthew Petrini and Kaitlyn Corsak as well as numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, Mr. Craig is predeceased by a brother, Neil Craig. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, Feb. 4, at 10:15 am in St. Mary Church. Burial will follow in St. Mary Cemetery with military honors. The family will receive friends in the Kane Funeral Home, 25 Catoonah St., on Thursday, Feb. 3, from 4 to 8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Mr. Craig's honor and memory may be made to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of CT, Suite 107, 306 Industrial Park Rd., Middletown, CT 06457 www.cff.org/chapters/connecticut, Regional Hospice of Western CT, Home Care Program, 405 Main St., Danbury 06810, Ridgefield Volunteer Fire Dept., 6 Catoonah St., Ridgefield 06877 or to the Norman D. Craig Scholarship Fund, Immaculate High School, 73 Southern Blvd., Danbury 06810.