Norman C. Weisbecker '43-2
NORMAN C. WEISBECKER, 88, World War II veteran and former longtime resident of Greenwich (and recently of Rye Brook, New York), passed away peacefully in his sleep at the Notre Dame Convalescent Home on October 13, 2010. Weisbecker was born in Hamilton Township, N.J. on September 19, 1922, and grew up in Cranston, R.I. He attended Providence Classical High School of Providence, R.I., and graduated from Kents Hill School of Kents Hill, Maine, the Maine Maritime Academy of Castine, Maine, and Bryant University of Smithfield, R.I. After training at the Maine Maritime Academy, Weisbecker entered the United States Navy as an officer on July 1, 1942. He was assigned to duty in the Pacific Theater and served for four years, primarily on the attack transport ship U.S.S. Ormsby (APA 49). Weisbecker's duties on the Ormsby ranged from Assistant Navigator to Beach Master, and he also served as Platoon Leader for the Navy's Underwater Demolition Team #17 ("UDT," now known as the Navy Seals). For Weisbecker's distinguished service in the Navy, he received multiple commendations, including the Presidential Unit Commendation (for his service in the UDT), the Naval Unit Commendation, the Philippine Liberation Medal, the Pacific Theater of Operations Commendation (6 stars) and the American Theater Ribbon. Upon completing his service in World War II, Weisbecker met his wife to be, Jane Rawles Byrd Weisbecker, who had just completed her service in England as a nurse in the United States Army. After being married in 1946, their primary homes were in High Point, N.C. (where they lived until 1976), and in Greenwich (where they lived from 1976 through 2004). While a resident of Greenwich, Weisbecker was a dedicated sailor who enjoyed navigating the harbors of the Long Island Sound. Weisbecker had a prestigious career in business, principally in the textile field with former industry leader Guilford Mills, Inc. of Greensboro, N.C. and New York, N.Y. Weisbecker served as Guilford's Executive Vice President and Director of Merchandising until his retirement in 1988. He was widely lauded as an innovator in the field of textile marketing, and as a retirement project formed a consulting firm located in Cos Cob that assisted many clients (including Vera Bradley) in achieving success in the United States markets. Weisbecker is survived by his wife of 64 years, Jane, of Rye Brook, N.Y.; daughter, Ellen Weisbecker of Rye Brook, N.Y.; son, Lee Weisbecker and daughter-in-law, Cathy Weisbecker of Chapel Hill, N.C.; daughter, Jane Weisbecker Arnone, of Greenwich; son, Will Weisbecker and daughter-in-law, Cassandra Weisbecker, of Blue Bell, Pa.; and grandchildren, Scott Weisbecker of Columbia, S.C., Andrew Weisbecker of Washington, DC, Harry Weisbecker of Chapel Hill, N.C., Carl Weisbecker of Wayne, Pa., Lauren Weisbecker of Wayne, Pa., John Weisbecker of Blue Bell, Pa., Julia Arnone of Greenwich, and Molly Arnone of Greenwich.
A memorial service will be held for Weisbecker at the Leo P. Gallagher Funeral Home in Greenwich on October 17, 2010 at 2 p.m., with calling hours to be held (prior to the service) between 12:30 and 2 p.m. Donations in Weisbecker's memory may be made to the Notre Dame Convalescent Home, 76 West Rocks Road, Norwalk, CT 06851.
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