Norman Henry Colby ’51


Norman Henry Colby ’51 died on October 8, 2010, at home in Walnut Creek, California, from complications of cancer. Born in Omaha, Nebraska, and graduated from its Benson High School, he first attended the University of Colorado before transferring to our class. He was a government major, graduating cum laude. After three years in the U.S. Army as a lieutenant he began a four-decade career as a suburban newspaper reporter in the San Francisco Bay Area. He married Frances Hodder in 1955, had three children and later divorced. His longest stay at a newspaper was 16 years at The Richmond Independent. He attended the journalism school at University of California Berkeley in 1961-62. He was a member of the Contra Costa Press Club and served as its secretary for 10 years. His interests included barbershop quartet singing for 25 years with the Devil Mountain Chorus of Walnut Creek. His baritone voice was in demand also with the Contra Costa Musical Theatre and the Masquers Playhouse of Richmond, California. He is survived by his companion of 38 years, Patricia McCormac, children Mark, Philip and Claire and two grandchildren. His father was Dudley Colby ’14.