Norman Greene

norman greene
Norman Greene passed away December 10, 2023, after a brief illness. Norman was born in Bronx, NY on June 27, 1936, to Murray and Betty Greene. Norman got the privilege of naming his sister, Burma, when she was born. The family moved to Bayside Queens in 1946. After graduating Jamaica High School, Norman attended Queens College where he was a founding member of the Tau Epsilon Phi fraternity chapter. Norm graduated with a bachelor’s degree in accounting. His first job was with Masters department stores. Norman joined Estee Lauder as a staff accountant in the late 1960's and would remain with the company for 17 years serving as the manager of the international accounting department before moving on from the company. In 1988, Norman embarked on his second career - as a revenue accountant with the New York State Department of Taxes. Norman enjoyed his time with NYS DTF. He made friends he would remain close to for the rest of his life. One friend from DTF said Norman was like the "class clown" at the office, known for leaving items on people's desks, sending funny emails, or frequently announcing, ‘Where did the day go!?,’ at the end of the day. In 1978, Norman met the love of his life, Dotty, at a Parents Without Partners event. Norman was a New Member Ambassador so he could have the first opportunity to meet and greet new members. This worked in his favor when he met Dotty at the first event she attended, and he said he fell in love with her at first sight. They continued to date and eventually, after discussing the idea with their children, Norman and Dotty joined their households. They were married February 1, 1980, and remained so for the next 43 years. Norman and Dotty enjoyed spending weekends at the beaches of Smithtown, where they were well-known fixtures. They would frequently arrive early and often not leave until early evening. Ever curious about trying new things, after their children grew up and moved out, Norman found ways to satisfy his curiosity – he tried windsurfing and sailing for brief periods but ended up leaning more towards creative arts. Norm loved his plants and tried his hand at the art of Bonsai. Next, Norman pursued painting in the Bob Ross style. For many years, he took classes as well as painted on his own to develop his skills further. Norman's paintings were featured in some local galleries and, when his first paintings were sold, he was proud to be acknowledged as a ‘professional’ artist. But painting would not be the last of Norman's artistic endeavors. After some encouragement from a friend, Norman auditioned for and won a role in ‘One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest’ This would ignite a passion for theatrical performance that lasted the rest of his life. Norm performed roles in dozens of plays. He explored improv by starting a local group, The Prime Players, with a friend where they would learn and perform vaudeville and Abbot & Costello routines. He even did some singing in musicals. Despite health issues limiting his mobility, Norman desired a return to the stage, even in what turned out to be his last weeks. Given a little more time, he probably would have found his way back onto the stage in another role. In hindsight, Norman said that acting was his true passion. Norman was predeceased by his wife, Dorothy. He is survived his sister Burma Finkel, children Lenny Greene, Donna Barbaro, Mitch Greene, David Bruno and Krysti Watters; grandchildren Jordan Kopf, Katie Watters and Jade Greene; and he just missed the birth of his first great-granddaughter Vivian Kopf. A memorial service will be held at 2- 6 with a prayer service at 5 pm on June 22, 2024, at Hawkins & Davis Funeral Home, 17 Manor Rd.., Smithtown NY 11787.

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