Amelia River & Taylor Dahnert
Staff Writer & Copy Editor
SCC Campus' passionate life learner and disabled rights activist Norm Rogers died from a fatal fall this Sunday, May 23 on his way home from dinner. He was 72.
Known for his heartwarming and out-of-the-blue humor, Rogers was known all around campus. During his 17 years as an SCC student, Rogers participated in the student government as a senator, and wrote for the Ebbtide student newspaper where he contributed as an opinionated free thinker. Nevertheless, Rogers was always willing to strike up a conversation with anyone and do his fair share of listening and learning from others.
Rogers was also an active member of Worldly Philosophers and Dismal Scientists Society (WPDSS), as well as the College Council.
His wheelchair dependency did not seem to have any effect on his level of activity and independence. On an average day you could see Rogers going around campus by himself, getting his famous "mocha" for which SCC baristas will always remember him, talking to faculty, attending conferences, greeting students and meeting with his Ebbtide editors; always with a smile on his face, and a joke in his back pocket.
This man never stopped, and his energy will probably keep enlightening Shoreline for a long time. He will be missed, but his examples of dedication and passion for life set a precedent for all who knew him.
The Ebbtide invites you to share a story about him to be possibly included in a full feature obituary that will be published about him in the next issue.
Also, check the Ebbtide online (www.shoreline.edu/ebbtide) for a place to post your thoughts and stories about Rogers.
I am just heart broken...
ReplyDeleteyet so happy that he lived a long full life.
Grateful that I was able to know him even if just for such a short time.
Rest in Peace Norm! You definitely lived life to it's fullest!
ReplyDeleteNorm will always be a hero to me. His attitude towards life will continue to inspire me!
ReplyDeleteIf you are interested to read something that Norm wrote about himself, go to this link below.
http://shoreline.edu/ebbtide/archive/v39/21/feature.html
SCC community:
ReplyDeleteAs most of you already know, our friend and active campus community member, Norm Rogers, died this Sunday on his way back home from dinner.
Having worked with him at The Ebbtide for two years, and participated in clubs, conferences and committees with him, I wonder what's going to happen now that he's gone.
Norm has this uncanny ability to twist awkward silences during meetings into moments of laughter, and to always have a joke ready for every situation, a big smile, and a laugh that most of us at the Ebbtide will hear in our heads forever. One of the greatest things he taught me, and many others who met him, was to be positive, perseverant and seize the day.
Norm did not give up, no matter what. If his articles needed work, he would always find ways to make improvements. When the other editors and I had feedback, he'd listen to our comments and work them into the story. However, Norm had a strong voice. If he didn't like the changes he would let us know.
Regardless of whether I asked him to change something or not, he would work on his article, and pretty soon come back with a joke in his back pocket and the news that he had emailed his work to me.
I also admired the patience and energy he brought with him not just to the Ebbtide but the Political Science and Journalism classes I took with him as well. Even when he didn't have his electrical chair. And although he had a harder time moving around, he was there with a million ideas, and his beautiful smile.
And I can't stop thinking about the fact that he was 72 years old, but had more energy and drive than most of us, who were at least a quarter century younger.
Throughout my time at the Ebbtide, I heard Norm say over and over again that he wanted to have a pajamas party, but we never actually put one together. Now, I want to have a PJ day to celebrate his good humor, and many great contributions to the campus community.
I encourage all of you to wear your best PJs to school, this Friday May 28; and think about him. I'm going to, anyone wants to join me?
Amelia Rivera
Norm had such a zest for life. He loved politics, jokes, mochas, his "bachelor pad" and his independence -- especially his independence. He wrote about this particular love in a piece for the Ebbtide's summer issue two years ago:
ReplyDelete"When I was about 11 or 12 my family went to Seaside, Oregon, and I took along my adult tricycle," he wrote. "I brought it from home, where I usually used a wheelchair. I felt independent in my tricycle at the beach. I could go anywhere. It was the first time I saw the ocean, and it was wonderful to see the waves going up and up on the beach. I also visited a play land with rides. I went on the Ferris wheel for the first time. I went at night and I felt happy looking at all the pretty lights."
I cherish this piece of writing because it's so evocative and it’s so Norm. At age 72, he was still playful, still awed by life’s daily wonders, still valuing freedom. (How he hated having to ride in a push wheelchair when his electric one was in the shop!)
Like everyone at the Ebbtide, I’ll miss Norm. I'll especially miss the way his eyes twinkled when he told a joke and the way he announced his presence (“Hello everybody!”) when he walked into an Ebbtide meeting -- as if we'd all been waiting for him. The funny thing is, we WERE all waiting for him. Or at least I was. "How you doin, Norm?" I'd ask, and he'd always reply with the same phrase: "I can’t complain.” Of course, he could complain, and had plenty of reasons to complain. But he just never did. He wasn't that kind of guy.
Norm's memorial service will be on Saturday, June 5 at 11:00AM at the Fairview Church; 844 NE 78th; Seattle, WA. The building is located on Roosevelt Way NE between 78th & 79th. The parking lot is off 79th on the west side of the building.
ReplyDeleteNorm, we miss the sound of your wheels, we miss you sitting at the computer typing away, we miss you saying "sorry to bother you ladies..but...", we miss you saying "sh...." when you couldn't find something on your computer, we miss you saying "what do you think?" when you were trying to figure out a situation, we miss you saying "oh, well" when you knew nothing could be done!
ReplyDeleteI think Norm will be helpful to me throughout my life.
ReplyDeleteHe was funny, and playful, and everything that everyone has already said, but he had something to offer that wasn't right there on the surface. Like Patti said, he didn't complain. Despite the obvious obstacles he had to overcome just to get through each day, he was happy to be here, and saw the true value in life by enjoying what he had–not what he thought he could or should have.
The Ebbtide office can get to be a pretty stressful place around production. Everyone's worried about headlines, or editing, or fact-checking, or just getting the paper designed in time to send out. It's easy to get caught up and worried to a point that's not healthy for you.
Whenever Norm came in around production–or any other high-stress time in the office–he wasn't freaking out, worried sick over whether the paper will get out on time or not. He was always just happy to help, and proud to be a part of it all.
I can remember lots of times when he would ask how I was doing, and I'd reply with a list of complaints about this or that. Every time though, Norm wouldn't miss a beat before replying: "Aww, poor baby!" I'll never forget that. Now, when I find myself in those stressful spots, I can't help but think what a poor, whiny baby I am being.
Norm just never let the little things bring him down much. That's something worth being remembered for.
I didn't know him at all really, I'm one of the two people who found him on Sunday evening. It makes me so glad to see how much he was loved, I wish I'd had the chance to know him. My strongest memory of him was one evening, several years ago, it was snowing hard. There were already a few inches on the road. He lived at the top of a steep hill, which was getting slippery. I'm his neighbor, and I saw him going by, asked if he needed any help with the hill. He just laughed and said "Never!" with such a bright, cheery smile... I liked him. Awesome guy, I'm sorry for what you've all lost...
ReplyDeleteHey House Occident! I love how you captured Norm with the steep-hill story. It brought him back to life for a minute there. Thanks for that.
ReplyDelete