Norman Paul Dusseault, Sr. went home to God on February 26, 2024, at the age of 93.

Norm was born April 26, 1930, in Fitchburg, MA. He graduated in 1951 from Holy Cross College in Worcester, MA and has been an active supporter of the college ever since. After graduating, he entered service in the United States Marine Corps where he met the love of his life, Nancy Mecartney. They married in 1953 at the Marine Corps Air Station, Cherry Point, NC and remained happily married until her death in 2015. Norm retired from the Marine Reserves with the rank of Lt. Colonel in 1971 after 20 years of service. They moved to St. Petersburg in 1954 while Norm was working for the Retail Credit Company (now Equifax) and have lived there ever since.

Norm joined the (St. Petersburg) Times Publishing Company in 1957 and served in numerous management positions with the paper, including Employment Manager, Assistant Classified Advertising Manager, Personnel Director, Operations Manager, and Vice President and Assistant General Manager. He was elected to the Board of Directors in in 1975 and served as a director of several Times subsidiaries until his retirement in 1993 after 35 years. He was instrumental in the formation of Modern Media Institute (now the Poynter Institute for Media Studies). He was active in the St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce and the American Newspaper Publishers Association.

Norm’s real passions, though, were his family and his faith. He lived out his life as a Catholic and manifested his faith through his charitable works in the community. He served as a board member and officer of countless community organizations, including the St. Petersburg Free Clinic, St. Anthony’s Hospital, the St. Petersburg Sertoma Club, the Sertoma Speech and Hearing Clinic, St. Petersburg Catholic High School, the Pinellas County Red Cross, the Christmas Toyshop, the Community Alliance for Aids, St. Vincent DePaul Society, and the National Conference of Christians and Jews (NCCJ). He and Nancy also financially supported and participated in numerous other charities. In his younger days, Norm was active in community theater, performing at the Pelican Playhouse and the Music Box Theater, and was a former president and board member of the St. Petersburg Little Theater.

He was an active parishioner at St. Jude Cathedral and later at St. Paul Catholic Church. He served as a lector for many years (known to his friends and family as “the voice of God”). Other parish work included the Respect Life Committee, Eucharistic Ministry, Refugee Resettlement, R.C.I.A., Parish Council, Stewardship Committee, Capital Campaign Committee, Cursillo and Arise retreat committees, Partners with Haiti, Serra Club, and numerous other ministries. In his later years, Norm served as the Eucharistic Minister for his residence at Addington Place, where he will be missed greatly by his many friends.

Norm was the recipient of the Sertoman of the Year Award, the NCCJ Silver Medal for Humanitarian Service, the Roy J. Deeb Service Award, Steward of the Year St. Paul Parish, among others. In 1998, he and Nancy became Knights of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre, and in 2016 Norm was awarded the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice by Pope Francis.

Norm was a loving husband and a wonderful father. He led the extraordinary life of an ordinary man with a singular superpower: He changed everyone he encountered. He is predeceased by his wife Nancy, and survived by his five children Deborah Campeau (Ric), Teresa Miller (Michael), Norman Paul, Jr. (Patricia), David (Susan), and Ruth Wenner (Kurt) as well as eleven grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that you exercise your superpower, and dedicate one hour of service to others in Norm’s memory.

Visitation will be from 5-7 PM on Friday, March 8 at Our Lady's Chapel @ The Cathedral of St. Jude. A prayer service will take place at 6:00 PM. Funeral Mass will be 9:30 AM Saturday, March 9, at St. Paul's Catholic Church. Entombment to follow at Calvary Catholic Cemetery.