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Otty Norwood

Otty Ruben Norwood, 97, died peacefully on March 11 at his home in Branford. Born June 3, 1925, in St. John, New Brunswick, Canada. Otty is survived by his beloved wife, Perdita; his children, Mary Elizabeth Winkle (Paul), Pamela Norwood, Robert Norwood (Yianni Makredes), Constance Brophy (James); his five grandchildren, Elizabeth Winkle, Robert Winkle, Henry Winkle, Mary Clare Brophy, and Caroline Brophy; nieces and nephews and his brother, Donald Norwood

Otty had a long, wonderful life. He was a loving, generous, unflaggingly supportive father. And his sterling character, fairness, undeviating positivity, and ribald sense of humor were the greatest of the gifts he gave to his family.

Otty was a devoted, loving husband. First for 28 years, to Clare O’Brien. They married and moved to the U.S. in 1955, where they raised their four children. Clare died in 1983. Otty later met Perdita Kirkness; they married in 1987, settled in Branford, and enjoyed 35 tremendously happy years together.

When asked for his secret to such a long life, Otty would always say, “Never stop working. Always keep learning”. After graduating from the University of New Brunswick, he became a teacher at St. John’s Beaconsfield School at the age of 21. At 24, he became the youngest principal in the school’s history. During sqummers, he earned his bachelor of arts at UNB and, later, his master’s and doctorate at Columbia University in New York.

As a school superintendent, he made an impact throughout his career.

In 1960s Weston, Massachusetts, he played a pivotal role in developing what remains the longest continuously running voluntary school desegregation program.

During his 16 years in the Mamaroneck school system, in addition to being famous as the Canadian who rarely gave snow days, he was credited with making it one of the best school systems in the country.

He piloted anti-drug policies in Weston schools, a move covered by The New York Times. He taught graduate classes at NYU and was president of the Educational Records Bureau.

When he retired, he co-founded Pro-Write, a digital writing platform, and volunteered generously — as a writing coach for the New Haven Police Department, a children’s tutor, an ESL teacher, a member of the Branford Zoning Board and the Branford Garden Club, and he developed senior-focused content at BCTV.

One of his earliest students said, “Teachers come and go in your life, but this guy, you never forget.” He was right.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, May 8, at Trinity Episcopal Church in Branford.

In lieu of flowers, we ask that you honor Otty by learning something new in his memory or with an act of kindness – make someone feel special or important and leave them smiling, as he always did. Please see his obituary @ www.wsclancy.com.