Norman Walter Westin, of Pawling, New York, an architect and dedicated husband, father and grandfather, died on July 28 in Mohegan Lake, NY after a long illness. He was 79.
He was born to Astrid Hansen Westin and Gunnar Frederick Westin in Brooklyn, NY on December 6, 1935. He grew up in Brooklyn and in Valley Stream, NY, and he graduated in 1954 from Valley Stream Central High School, where he lettered in baseball and football and captained the football team during his senior year.
Norm developed a great love of building design and structure by observing and working with his father, who was a master carpenter. This led to Norm’s choosing architecture as his profession. He attended and graduated from the Pratt Institute School of Architecture in Brooklyn, NY, receiving his Bachelor of Architecture degree in 1959.
While at Pratt, Norm met a fellow student, the former Margaret Ellen Elizabeth Eichhorn, of Columbia, Pennsylvania, who was the love of his life. They married on August 22, 1959 and enjoyed a long and happy union. Norm and Margaret were just shy of their 56th wedding anniversary when Norm passed away.
After graduating from Pratt, Norm served in the Army National Guard, achieving the rank of sergeant. He then began his architecture career at Horace Ginsbern & Associates in New York, NY. In the 1970s, he joined Butler Rogers Baskett in New York, NY, and he joined Grandberg & Associates Architects in Mt. Kisco, NY in the 1990s. Throughout his career, Norm worked in numerous aspects of the architecture business, ranging from drafting to management. The common thread running through all of his work was his keen understanding of — and love for — fine design and architectural detail.
Norm was a long-time resident of Mt. Kisco, NY, where he lived from 1970 to 2007. Norm was a natural leader, and he shared his abilities by serving as chairman of Mt. Kisco Architectural Review Board, and later as chairman of the Mt. Kisco Planning Board, for many years during the 1970s and 1980s. Norm and Margaret moved to Pawling in 2006.
Norm and Margaret have two children: Richard (wife: Irene) of Mahopac, NY and Claudia (husband: Chris Grey) of Ridgefield, CT. Norm was a proud and loving grandfather who adored every one of his six grandchildren (Gregory Westin, Diana Westin, Emily Westin, Katherine Westin, Julia Grey and Amos Grey) — and every one of his grandchildren adored him right back.
Norm had a wonderful sense of humor, an easy laugh and an ability to make friends readily wherever he went. He was uncommonly gifted not just with drafting and drawing, but also with all things relating to words. He always solved the New York Times crossword puzzles – even the Saturday ones — at blazing speed and in pen.
Norm was a devoted husband, a supportive and caring father and a doting grandfather who loved nothing more in life than he loved his family. His family will dearly miss his generous spirit and tender nature.
Visitation will be held on Saturday, August 1st at the Horn & Thomes, Inc. Funeral Home, 83 East Main Street, Pawling, NY from 2-3 PM, with a funeral service at 3 PM.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Norm’s name may also be made to the American Cancer Society.
For directions or to leave an online condolence, please visit www.hornandthomesfuneralhome.com.
