Obituary Norman Heny Colby

 

     Norm Colby died on October 8,2010 at home in Walnut Creek, CA from complications of cancer.  Born in Omaha, Nebraska and graduated from its Benson High School, he first attended the University of Colorado before transferring to our class at Dartmouth.  He majored in government and graduated cum laude.   After three years in the U. S. Army as a lieutenant, he began a four decade career as a suburban newspaper reporter in the San Francisco Bay area.  He married Frances Hodder in 1955, had three children and later divorced.

     His longest stay at a newspaper was 16 years at The Richmond Independent.  He attended the journalism school at University of California Berkeley in 1961-62.  He was a member of the Contra Costa County Press Club and served as its secretary for 10 years. Norm's interests included barbershop quartet singing for 25 years with the Devil Mountain Chorus of Walnut Creek.  His baritone voice was in demand also with the Contra Costa Musical Theater and the Masquers Playhouse of Richmond.  He is survived by his companion of 38 years Patricia McCormac, two sons--Mark and Philip, a daughter Claire and two grandcildren.  His father was Dudley Colby '14.