Obituary of Dr. Norman Edward Cameron

Dr. Norman Edward Cameron (November 22, 1942 - April 3, 2024) passed away in Tucson, AZ of an apparent heart attack while riding his bicycle.

 

Norm was the sixth child of Vera and Murray Cameron. He spent his early years in Huntsville, Ontario, Canada. When he was nine years old he won a scholarship to attend two schools in Edinburgh, Scotland (Cargilfield and then Fettes College). While Norm stayed with the local Scottish families on school holidays, he came home to Canada in the summers. His Scottish accent caused his siblings to call him “Little Lord Fauntleroy”, so he quickly adopted a Canadian accent which caused him to be called “Hank the Yank” when he returned to Scotland. It was in Scotland that Norm learned to play the bagpipes.

 

Norm spent summers at Rockwynn Lodge on Lake Cecebe where his family operated a family fishing resort. This is where Norm and his brothers Don, Gord, Doug and Sandy picked up their plumbing, carpentry, electrical and general fix-it skills. The boys and sister Kathy also learned hospitality skills from operating a tourist resort.

 

Norm returned to Canada for university going first to Queen’s University in Ontario, then to the University of Western Ontario, and finally to the University of Michigan for his doctoral work. It was at the U of M that he met Bev on a blind date arranged by their respective roommates. Bev and Norm were engaged within six weeks, married in six months, and on a doctoral exchange together at the Moscow State University within the year. They were partners in life for the remaining 56 years of his life.

 

Upon returning to Canada Norm became a Professor in the Economics Department at the University of Manitoba. Fresh from Moscow, Bev was wary of Winnipeg (“Winterpeg”), so she only agreed to stay for three years. Thirty-five years, and several teaching awards later, Bev and Norm retired to Tucson, AZ and Lake Cecebe near Magnetawan, Ontario. As retirees, they built two cottages and started a cottage rental business (cameroncottages.ca).

 

Norm and Bev have two children, a son Ewen in Oakville, Ontario and a daughter, Faye in Boulder, Colorado. They have three grandsons (Angus, Holden and Wyatt) and a daughter in law, Rachel in Oakville. They also have a daughter of choice, Carole, in Winnipeg.

 

Norm was full of life. He had a magnetic personality and a great sense of humor. He was well known for playing the bag pipes, especially if teenagers were sleeping.

 

Norm was an avid athlete. He formed and kept up with a swim/cycle/cross-country ski group from Winnipeg. He went on 5-day canoe trips in Algonquin Park, a cross-Canada bike trip, 400 mile bicycle races in Michigan, 52 km cross-country ski races in Wisconsin, and so much more. He was part of Team Canada for triathlons in his 60s!  Norm was the energizer bunny who kept going after everyone else was tired. We were glad to be along for the ride.

 

Norm loved to build, fix, and refurbish things and was a talented artisan. There were few projects he wouldn’t tackle from big to small. Much of the furniture in the two places he and Bev call home were hand-crafted by Norm. He truly loved to play board games and cards, and frustrated his opponents by his easy wins.

 

Norm loved teaching. After a full academic career he enjoyed teaching his grandsons how to build things, how to sail, and as they got older, how to drive boats themselves.

 

A gracious host and talented storyteller, Norm made everyone feel welcomed and important.

 

He was a true legend on Lake Cecebe…. Volunteering in the lake association with his sister Kathy and brother Gord, rescuing docks, rescuing people, winning races, hosting gatherings and bringing people together. He also spent many hours volunteering for the Magnetawan Lions, especially with dock building and bottle return projects. He could often be heard on Lake Cecebe playing Amazing Grace and other tunes on the bagpipes for all to hear. These evening concerts became a symbol of summer at the lake.

 

He was extraordinarily proud of his children and grandchildren and loved Bev immensely.

 

If you would like to make a memorial donation, Norm was a Lion and a dog lover so we suggest that donations in the United States be made to Lions Project for Canine Companions https://www.lpcanine.org/, Tohono Chul in Tucson where some of his woodwork is still on display at the Museum Shop  https://tohonochul.org/, or a charity of your choice.

 

In Canada memorial donations can be made to St. John’s College at the University of Manitoba where Norm was a faculty member for many years. https://umanitoba.ca/st-johns-college/community-and-alumni/alumni#donate-to-the-college or the Magnetawan Lions Club where Norm volunteered hundreds of hours. To donate, send an e-transfer to magnetawanlions@gmail.com. The security questions would be ‘Who is the donation for’ and the Answer would be Norm. Or pick a charity of your choice.

 

We ask that you remember Norm by cherishing your experiences with him.

 

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