Norman F. Breitner, former Director of Information Services at Maine State Housing Authority, died on Sept. 19, 2022 after living with lung cancer for over four years. He was 77.

Norm was born on Aug. 22, 1945 in San Francisco, firstborn son of Marcelle and Fred Breitner.

Norm’s love of music manifested itself early on: trumpet and bugle, followed by trombone which he played in the Capuchino High School Band. Norm often spoke of the musical highlight of those formative years: the Capuchino Band performance as part of the 1961 inauguration festivities for President John F. Kennedy. Norm interrupted his college years to serve as a radar operator in the U.S. Navy off the coast of Viet Nam. Thereafter he received his BS in chemistry at the University of California at Berkeley in 1971. Norm went on to study Chemical Oceanography at the University of Washington, Seattle, completing his MS in 1978 while a Research Assistant at Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences in Boothbay Harbor. In 1980 he left Bigelow for Digital Equipment Corp. Over the next 14 years Norm honed his skills in a wide range of operating systems; network hardware; system and network management, and project/group leadership. For a time Norm hung out his shingle as Heron Cove Computing, Inc., consultant to both for-profit and non-profit organizations in coastal and central Maine. Norm rounded out his career at Maine State Housing Authority, in Augusta, as Director of Information Services, retiring in 2014.

Throughout these years Norm and I, his wife, Emily, found time to travel - Greece being a country we both loved to visit.

Of the many interests that Norm loved, music was primary, ranging from classical, opera and folk, to jazz, Gilbert & Sullivan and brass band. Norm played in area bands including Boothbay Region Community Band, the Harpswell Community Band, but primarily with the Bath Municipal Band. He played trombone, euphonium, and French horn. He loved making music with others, the joys of rehearsal and performance, especially with others who also found their passion in making music together.

He touched many lives. All of us who loved him – family and friends – are bereft. We remember the kindness inherent in his nature, his wit, how well he listened to others, his acceptance of people as he found them. Norm and his brother, Steve, shared an unshakable bond. They were always there for each other. As for me – the half century Norm and I had together, will never be enough. It was our great good fortune to have found each other and loved.

In lieu of flowers, consider a donation to: The Bath Municipal Band, or: The Dean Snell Cancer Foundation. See: www.deansnell.org

A Gathering of Family and Friends will be held at Hall Funeral Home, 975 Wiscasset Rd. Boothbay, ME 04537, on Friday, Oct. 14, 4-6 p.m. Phone: 207-633-2171. All are welcome.