Local Veteran And Businessman Emil Norsic Dies Monday Evening

For 64 years, in sweltering heat and pouring rain, North Sea resident Emil R. Norsic took pride in making sure there was always a live rendition of “Taps” at the annual Southampton Village Memorial Day service.On Saturday, “Taps” will be played in honor of Mr. Norsic as the U.S. Marine Corps veteran is laid to rest at Sacred Hearts Cemetery in Southampton. Mr. Norsic, who owned the North Sea-based sanitation company Norsic and Son, died on Monday evening. He was 94 years old.

This week, friends and family of Mr. Norsic are remembering his generous spirit, saying it would be difficult to find a more caring individual.

“What an unbelievable person,” Southampton Village Mayor Mark Epley said. “I couldn’t say enough good things about this incredible man. I really can’t. He was such a phenomenal man.”

Mr. Norsic was born on January 9, 1920, on Division Street in Sag Harbor, to Antoinette “Nettie” and Emil “Pop” Norsic. He attended school in Sag Harbor until eighth grade before moving to North Sea and attending Southampton High School, from which he graduated in 1937.

One year later, Mr. Norsic met the love of his life, Anna Raynor, while attending a friend’s wedding in Hampton Bays. The two were married four years later and had a son, also named Emil, and two daughters, Toni and Joanne. The Norsics raised their children in a modest one-story ranch house right across from where Mr. Norsic had spent the latter part of his childhood on Henry Road. He lived there until his death.

Mr. Norsic had spent the earlier part of his career working as an aluminum welding instructor for the Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation, one of the leading producers of military and civilian aircraft in the United States. As part of his job, Mr. Norsic was required to take the entrance test for the U.S. Navy.

After two and a half years, Mr. Norsic decided to join the military, and on December 13, 1943, he enlisted in the Marine Corps. After completing basic training at Parris Island, he was transfered to Cherry Point Marine Air Station in North Carolina, where he worked as an aluminum welding instructor and as a marine aircraft engineer. He was discharged on May 30, 1946.

Mr. Norsic is widely known as a successful businessman. In 1947, he went into business with his father, who had started the sanitation company in 1932. Mr. Norsic officially took over the company, which is now run by his son, Emil “Skip” Norsic. The company has grown to include 65 employees and more than 90 sanitation trucks.

Through his business, Mr. Norsic influenced some very prominent people on the East End, including Sag Harbor Village Mayor Brian Gilbride, who has worked for the Norsics for the last 12 years. Even before he worked for him, Mr. Gilbride said he clearly remembers seeing Mr. Norsic with his father at the Southampton Town transfer station, neatly dressed.

“They are all just good people, a great family,” Mr. Gilbride said. “He is a gentlemen and a great, great guy, a true pillar of the community.”

To many in the community, he is best remembered for his presence at local Memorial Day ceremonies. Starting the same year he was discharged, Mr. Norsic played his bugle for 64 years’ worth of ceremonies.

Mr. Epley said the village wanted to do something special to honor Mr. Norsic’s 90th birthday, and had a bugle engraved and presented to him at a ceremony. Although Mr. Norsic was not able to continue playing “Taps” in the last few years, Mr. Epley said the veteran and his family were always present at ceremonies, and that the memory of Mr. Norsic playing the bugle call will always stay with him.

“He is absolutely one of the nicest men you would ever meet,” Mr. Epley continued. “He has been a great leader in this community who provided jobs and education for a lot of people. He has been an incredible community man.”

The veteran was also known for his kindness, and for how long he kept going well into his later years.

“He lived a pretty active, public kind of life,” said Russell Beal, a friend of Mr. Norsic’s son, Skip.

Mr. Beal recalled a recent instance that spoke to how sharp Mr. Norsic was, even at an advanced age: “We were looking at something in the newspaper, and I had to take my glasses out in order to read it. He didn’t,” Mr. Beal said, holding back laughter. “He was one of those guys where you wondered, ‘How does he do it?’”

Mr. Beal also remembered watching Mr. Norsic take care of stray cats that would hang around Dumpsters at the sanitation plant, looking for something to eat. “No matter how cold it was, he was always outside feeding the cats. They always had at least one good meal a day,” he said, adding, “He was a sweetheart.”

Skip Norsic noted that his father told him his greatest assets in life were his good memories, and that he should always try to make as many good memories as possible.

Mr. Norsic had also been involved in several community groups, including his church, the Basilica Parish of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary in Southampton Village, as well as the Southampton Lions Club and the Knights of Columbus. He was a former president of the Southampton Chamber of Commerce, was one of the founders of the Quarterback Club at Southampton Hospital, and was a founding member of the Southampton Golf Club.

Mr. Norsic was also the chairman of Ducks Unlimited for 19 years, and on their New York State Advisory Board and New York State Council for four years. He founded the Eastern Suffolk chapter of Ducks Unlimited, and in 1975 was honored as the Great South Bay Waterfront Association’s conservationist of the year.

Mr. Norsic is survived by his wife, Anne; his son, Emil “Skip” Norsic; and two daughters, Toni and husband Julko Zorko, and Joanne and husband Michael McCallen. He is also survived by three grandsons, Christopher and wife Kelley Zorko, Michael and wife Catherine McCallen, and Robert McCallen; three great-granddaughters, Reilly and Caitlin Zorko, and Deirdre McCallen; and a sister, Fran Sims.

Mr. Norsic was predeceased by his parents, Emil and Nettie Norsic, as well as two sisters, Mary Ann Grisnik and Barbara Nikolich.

Visitation for Mr. Norsic will take place today, December 11, from 7 to 9 p.m., and will continue on Friday from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. at the O’Connell Funeral Home on Little Plains Road in Southampton. A Mass is scheduled for 9 a.m. on Saturday at the Basilica Parish of Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary on Hill Street in Southampton, followed by burial at Sacred Hearts Cemetery.

Staff writer Alyssa Melillo contributed to this story.