Obituary of Norman C. Hazell

Norman C. (Buddy) Hazell, age 93, passed away peacefully at home on Friday, April 20, 2018 surrounded by his loving family. Norman was born on September 26, 1924 in Elizabeth, New Jersey. He was one of three sons and five daughters of James and Eliza Adams Hazell. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his brothers and loving sisters and their spouses as well as his devoted wife of 50 years, Sylvia Iacurci Hazell. He is survived by his loving wife of 16 years, Geraldine Sutphen Hazell; his sons Gregory J. Hazell, Christopher P. Hazell and wife Regina, and Eric Hazell, and his daughter, Patricia A. DePamphilis and husband John. He was a devoted father, grandfather of eight and great-grandfather of twelve.. Norman was a proud World War II veteran who joined the U.S. Navy upon his high school graduation, serving from June 29, 1942 until December 10, 1945. He held the rank of Quartermaster 3rd class, serving most of his navel career in the Pacific Theatre aboard the USS Schroeder/DD501. After his discharge from the Navy, he attended RCA Technical Institute in New York City which eventually led to a 42-year career at A.T. & T. Bell Laboratories in Murray Hill and Holmdel, New Jersey. During his life, he served his community in a variety of ways. He served as Scoutmaster of Troop No. 18 in Freehold, was a life member of the Freehold Elks Lodge No. 1454, and American Legion Post No. 54. After retiring, he spent ten years working with Habitat for Humanity sharing his expert carpentry skills to build homes for families in need. One of his proudest moments came in 1994 when he joined 3,000 other volunteers from around the country to a Sioux Nation Reservation in South Dakota, joining President Jimmy Carter to build 30 homes for 30 Sioux families in seven days. Norman loved to travel, most especially by water, and all through his life, there wasn’t a cruise that disappointed. His love of being on the water started at a young age when he and his brother Teddy spent several summers on the waters of the east coast with their father who worked as a ship’s captain. Highlights of his travels include accompanying his youngest son Eric to Special Olympics games in London, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico; a river boat cruise to Normandy, France to visit the WW II Memorial and the American Cemetery; visiting the islands of his parent’s birth, Bequia and St. Vincent in the British West Indies as well as several Windjammer Angelique cruises off the coast of Maine. The viewing will be held at the Higgins Memorial Home, 20 Center Street, Freehold on Wednesday from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. The Funeral Liturgy will be celebrated at St. Rose of Lima Chapel, Freehold on Thursday at 10:00 a.m. followed by interment at the parish cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Norman’s name to the Shriners Hospital for Children or Habitat for Humanity: https://www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org/shc/donate https://www.habitat.org/donate/?keyword=header