Peter L. Norgren Obituary (1938 - 2020)

With deep sorrow, Ben Norgren and Amy Norgren Salfi announce that we lost our beloved father Peter L. Norgren, in the early minutes of August 26th. He was 81. He died at home, overcome by a failing heart, comforted by his dearest friend Sharon Petronaci. He is survived by his loving daughter-in-law, Dawn Norgren, his beloved older and younger sisters, Johanna and Connie, grandsons Nathaniel and Andrew, son-in-law Paul Salfi, friend and former wife Sandra Norgren, nieces and nephews, cousins, and countless members of the community who respected him and counted on his friendship, humor, wisdom and support. Peter was born in Brooklyn, NY, in 1938, and was a proud graduate of Brooklyn Tech High School. He earned an architectural degree from Pratt institute in Brooklyn in 1961. He served briefly in the Army Corps, and enjoyed his time being stationed in Germany. Peter and Sandra moved to Caldwell, in 1968 and Pete has been an integral member of the Caldwell/West Caldwell community here ever since. He played and coached softball and basketball (Carteret Celtics - Caldwell-West Caldwell Rec League 1986 Champs!). He coached youth basketball and softball. He taught Sunday school at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in North Caldwell (illustrating the bible with notoriously amazing chalk board drawings) and volunteered with the Caldwell/West Caldwell recreation department as an umpire, and with the Grover Cleveland Birthplace Memorial Association. Peter was devoted to his career as the staff architect for the Evangelical Lutheran Church, working full time until the age of 72. He loved playing and watching basketball, the Giants, and the Mets. He was an avid reader, and a member of a book club that stayed together for 40+ years. He also played the banjo, loved jazz and opera, and was a great supporter of Amy and Ben's performances with the Grove Cleveland/JCHS Music Department and Ben's football career with the Caldwell Chiefs. In his retirement, Dad could be counted on to read two newspapers daily, plus the New Yorker cover-to-cover each week. Peter loved his children and grandchildren fervently and made us feel valued, loved and supported. He will be missed by so many to whom he contributed joy, wisdom, love and support. A virtual memorial service is planned in about a month, please contact Amy Norgren Salfi or Ben Norgren for details. Donations may be made in Peter's memory to the American Heart Association. http://www2.heart.org/goto/for_Pete_Norgren