UPDATED: Michael Dennis Norton, 68

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UPDATED:

Relatives and friends are invited to attend his calling hours from 4 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, June 3, 2021, at the Norton Funeral Home, 53 Beech Street in Framingham.

His funeral Mass will be at Saint Tarcisius Parish, 562 Waverly St. (Rt.135), Framingham at 11 a.m. on Friday, June 4.

Burial will take place in Calvary Cemetery, 1461 Broadway, South Portland, ME 04106 at 12noon on Saturday, June 5.

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FRAMINGHAM – Michael Dennis Norton of Orlando, Florida entered eternal rest on December 20, 2020 at the age of 68 after a year-long battle with Pancreatic Cancer.

Born in Boston, Massachusetts, he was one of seven boys of the late Paul E. and Evelyn (Jane) Norton.

Mike grew up in Framingham in the 1950’s and 60’s, enjoying great times with the neighborhood friends in Nobscot before graduating from Framingham North High School in 1970.

Mike always made a big impact on the world around him. In high school, he was an accomplished wrestler, competing in the state championship. He excelled academically and discovered a love for art.

Mike went on to graduate from the Massachusetts College of Art and Received his Master of Fine Arts Degree from Yale University for sculpture where he was awarded the Alice Kimball Fellowship in recognition for his work. Mike was proud of the fact that he paid his own way through Yale, even sleeping above a suspended ceiling in the art studio on campus and showering at the local YMCA to get by. Mike was an accomplished and celebrated artist working with I.M. Pei, Ivan Chermayeff, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, and others.

In the late 1970’s he exhibited at galleries throughout New York City and Boston, including works on permanent display at the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum and a steel sculpture donated to the Town of Framingham that graced the entrance to Keefe Technical School for many years.

To support his love of art, Mike got a job as the third employee at a small startup technology company.

Using his hard working attitude, unstoppable drive, and alternative approach to problems, Mike enjoyed a long and successful business career in executive positions as President of Keytek Instrument, CEO of Thermo Voltek (TVL), Director of Corporate Development at Thermedics, President and CEO of ZooCom Corp, President and CEO of Andros, Inc., COO at Cyterra Corporation, an L3 Communications Company, COO at Visible Assets, Inc, and General Manager at Aethercomm.

Mike retired to Orlando in 2014, though his entrepreneurial spirit and passion for consulting never wavered. He enjoyed sitting on the patio at Starbucks with his friends, spending time with family, and making special memories with his two daughters, Michelle, Marina and his wife, Catherine. Mike loved
to cook, sip wine, and enjoyed being a host. He was always the life of a gathering, using his wit and humor to entertain everyone around him.

Michael is survived by his wife Catherine R. Alsina Norton of Orlando, FL, his former spouse Pamela (Billings) Norton of Tewksbury, MA, his daughters, Michelle Athena Koppe and her husband Kyle of Winter Park, FL, and Marina Page Norton of Tewksbury, MA, his brothers, Paul and his wife Diane of Hull, MA, James and his wife Janice of Quaker Hill, CT, William and his wife Leslie of Framingham, MA, John and his wife Aurora of Millbury, MA, Timothy of Hopkinton, MA, and Joseph of Framingham, MA. and many beloved nieces and nephews and extended family.

Services to be announced at a later date.