Obituary of Norman R. Drapeau

Norman R. Drapeau, 91, of Delmar, New York, passed away Saturday, February 17^th, at home with his loving wife, Ann by his side.

Born in Seekonk, Massachusetts January 2, 1933 to the late Albert and Grace (Mullen) Drapeau, Norm graduated from East Providence High School in Rhode Island and from the University of Massachusetts where he received a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering. Norm married the love of his life Ann M. Oborne in 1958 at the Church of the Assumption in Providence, RI.

Norm was the youngest of five brothers living in rural Massachusetts spent many hours as a young boy playing ping pong with his brothers and neighbors at the Seekonk Boys Club. During his high school years, Norm enjoyed cross-country and wrestling and was a member of the 1950 and 1951 RI State Champion wrestling teams. In 1951, Norm won the New England AAU Wrestling Championship in Boston becoming the first high schooler to ever win the tournament. After high school graduation, Norm enlisted in the US Air Force where he served honorably with the Strategic Air Command as a B-29 chief fire control gunner. Upon discharge from the service, Norm went to college on the G.I. bill and graduated in 1961 after which Norm obtained his Professional Engineering license from the State of New York. Norm began his 35 year career with the State of New York first for the Department of Transportation where he was surveyor and project engineer for the construction of a stretch of what is now I-87 the “Northway”.  Norm later worked for the Department of Environmental Conservation where he authored state regulations governing the transportation and disposal of hazardous materials until his retirement in 1996. In 2001, after the terrorist attack on the Word Trade Center, Norm went back to work with the NY State Emergency Management Office working with other state agencies and FEMA to assist in the rebuilding of lower Manhattan.

Norm very much enjoyed taking his young family on annual camping trips to Schroon Lake and coastal Rhode Island where the family boated, fished, swam and water skied as well as a 1973 summer long family road trip across the US exploring many historic settings and natural wonders.  For almost 40 years Norm could be seen jogging around Delmar, often with Ann, his sons or friends. He participated in many road races in the Capital Region, Rhode Island and Boston areas including several marathons culminating in qualifying for and running in the 1983 Boston Marathon. Norm enjoyed several trips travelling throughout western Europe with Ann and family. Norm obtained a private pilot’s license and enjoyed flying with family and friends to destinations around the northeast including Norm and Ann’s favorite New England spot, Block Island. Norm loved watching their grandchildren participate in high school and college athletics/activities and wintering in Florida at their beloved Anna Maria Island. Norm’s greatest joy in life derived from his relationship with his wife and children. From the college years where he and Ann lived in Amherst, Massachusetts with two baby daughters to the present, family was always the most important part of his life.

Norman is survived by his loving wife of 65 years, Ann M. (Oborne) Drapeau and their four children Kathleen Drapeau (Gary Leshko) of Jay, NY, Diane Drapeau-Foyer (Scott Foyer) of Farmington, CT, Norman (Diana) Drapeau of Glenville, NY and William Drapeau (Teresa Grant) of Glenville, NY. Also survived by his brother, William of East Providence, RI; grandchildren Brent, Alyssa, Trevor, Nicole, Andrew, Christopher, Gregory and Caroline and great granddaughter Reese. Norm is predeceased by brothers Daniel, Albert and James all from the Seekonk MA/Providence RI area and also by niece, Diane Drapeau and nephew, Edward Drapeau.

He will be greatly missed and his love will remain in our hearts forever.

Relatives and friends are invited to call on Thursday, February 22 from 4 to 7 pm at Applebee Funeral Home, 403 Kenwood Ave., Delmar.  A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 am on Friday, February 23 at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, 35 Adams Pl. Delmar.  Burial will follow in Bethlehem Cemetery, Delmar.

Contributions may be made in Norman’s name to Friends of Five Rivers Volunteers, 56 Game Farm Rd, Delmar NY 12054.