Obituary of Norman A. Cazavan

CAZAVAN Norman Alfred, resident of Valleycreek, Montgomery, passed away on Tuesday, February 21, 2017 at the age of 96. He was the devoted husband of the late Lily Shafer Cazavan. They met at the USO in the YWCA building on Walnut Street in Cincinnati in 1944. A few month later they married at a Chapel at Camp Chaffee, Arkansas. This marriage lasted 48 years until Lily's passing. Norman 's only son, Larry Cazavan of Greenville, MS. Passed away on July 11, 2013.and Norman now leaves behind his two grand-daughters, Kelly Cazavan, of Richmond, VA. and Kimberley Lunsford (Cazavan) of Suffolk, VA and her husband James Lunsford, WO US Coast Guard; and his great-grandchildren triplets Morgan, Travis, and Jayson Lunsford. Also, left behind with thanks are his devoted caregiver Joye & Charles Schleutker, Beverly Busmeyer, Annita Schneider and long-time friend Helen Anthony Norman was born in Perth Amboy, NJ in 1920. He was the son of Alfred Cazavan & Maude Way. He was the grandson of Arsene Cazavan & Malvina Frechette both direct descendants of the original settlers of Quebec, Canada. He was also the direct descendant of Henry Way & Elizabeth Batchelar who landed on the New England coast, with their 4 children, in 1630 and helped found the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Norman graduated in 1937 from Perth Amboy High School, where he participated in Basketball, Tennis and Swimming. He later attended Middlesex College and Rutgers University. Prior to being drafted in the Army in WWII he worked with several big and little bands for a short time as a vocalist. After Basic Training in the Army he was assigned to Headquarters of the Armored Division. They were sent to Europe in early 1945 and moved from LeHavre, France to Pilsen, Czechoslovakia. This was the most easterly advance of any allied troops. The war ended there. At wars end he has assigned to the Office of Military Government in Berlin, Germany. Following his discharge from the Army in 1946 he settled in Cincinnati and shortly after he and Lily bought a house in Madeira where they lived for over 40 years. He attended University of Cincinnati and found work with Frank Messer & Sons first as a Clerk, then Estimator, Chief Estimator, Project Manager, and then Vice President of NPS a Messer subsidiary. He had many community activities. He served 1 term as Councilman in Madeira when it was still a Village. He was a member of Madeira Silverwood Presbyterian Church for 65 years where he served as a Deacon and Elder. He was Chairman of the Church's Cub Scout Pack #20 for 3 years. He was a member of Maketewah Country Club for 45 years who he served as an Officer & Director and where he enjoyed playing golf. He was active in the local Construction Industry where he served on Apprenticeship & Negotiating Committees. He taught Building Estimating at the University of Cincinnati Evening College for several years. He was a Mason and as such was an Adviser of the local Demolay Chapter. As recognition both he and Lily were presented with Hats Off awards. After an early retirement, he agreed to help the R.E. Dailey Co., Detroit construct the 29 story Chiquita Center in downtown Cincinnati. He was Construction Coordinator all Trades. After his final retirement, he took note of his Quebec heritage and did extensive research in to his family's history. This lead to him compiling "Les Descendants de Jean Casavant" his 5fr great-grandfather who married in Quebec 1681. This book was published in 2001. He later compiled 7 other books relating to his family’s history. During this time, he became a volunteer Genealogy researcher for Quebec Gen-Forum and others. He was a member of several New England Genealogy Societies and the Descendants de Frechette Society in Montreal. Visitation will be held on Friday, February 24th from 10AM until the time of Memorial Service, 11M at Thomas-Justin Memorial, 7500 Montgomery Rd (45236).