Norman Warren Sousa Jr

Norman W. Sousa Jr.,74, of West Hartford, was called home on June 22, 2024, surrounded by the love of his devoted family and friends. Norman was born in Hartford on October 13, 1949, to Norman Warren Sousa and Dorothy Irene (Zurowsky) Sousa. Married almost 53 years to his great love, the former Barbara Kenworthy Phillips, he built a tight-knit family and collection of close friends. Norman lived a full life, pouring his strength and love into his family, community, and the family business. He was known for his strong moral compass, positive outlook, willingness to help others, sense of humor, and fiery spirit. He loved to tinker, problem-solve, and travel. He taught his family, friends, and colleagues how to be resilient, compassionate, and honorable. Youngsters knew him as an epic and relentless tickler. A beloved brother to his five sisters, Norman was also brother to members of his college fraternity, many of whom were with him in his final days. Norman was a man who inspired others. People trusted him to help solve their problems with his engineering acumen, and he worked almost until the end in the heat-treating business he loved. He led his family through many crises, including his youngest daughter’s kidney failure at age 10. To help restore her to health, he donated one of his kidneys, which lives on in her to this day. Norman provided strength and calm when others received grave diagnoses or suffered serious setbacks. Norman enjoyed learning, always seeking answers and understanding. He graduated from East Catholic High School in 1967 and was inducted into the National Honor Society. As a teenager, he attended the National Youth Science Camp and the American Legion’s governmental education program known as Nutmeg Boys State. He was a member of the Class of 1971 at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), earning a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. At WPI, he was a teaching assistant and a member of the Alpha Tau Omega (ATO) Fraternity, serving as comptroller and treasurer and Spring Weekend chairman. A highlight of his college career came when he and classmates entered the 1970 Clean Air Car Race, designing and building an electric car and driving it from MIT in Cambridge, Mass., to CalTech in Pasadena, Calif. The modified Gremlin won the Hybrid Electric prize, sharing honors with a car from the University of Toronto. Continuing his studies, he earned a master’s degree in metallurgy in 1977 from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. A member of the American Society for Metals (ASM) International, he served in several leadership positions and taught courses in the local ASM chapter. He was also a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers International and was chosen as Industrial Heating magazine’s 2006 Man of the Year. Norman began working at The Sousa Corp in 1971 alongside his father, Norman Sr., who had established the business (formerly the Bennett Metal Treating Co.) in 1963. After Norman Sr. retired in 1994, Norman purchased the Sousa Corp. In 2020, Norman Jr. sold it to his children, Amanda, Andrew, and Kate, the third generation to own and operate the business. He grew the business, moving it from its longtime location in West Hartford to a new plant in Newington, and he enjoyed working there even after semi-retirement, as it joined two main drivers of his life: spending time with family and being the smartest person in the room. His work philosophy was summed up in a shirt given to him that read, “I am an engineer. To save time, let’s just assume I’m never wrong.” Norman and Barbara spent many days at their beach house in East Lyme, hosting a July 4th party every year. His children, grandchildren, sisters, nieces, and nephews all enjoyed gathering there. His keen interest in genealogy led him through extensive research into his family’s origins as far back as the 17th century. A 2023 trip with siblings to the Azores Islands of Portugal, where his father’s parents were born on the island of Santa Maria, fulfilled a longtime wish to visit his grandparent’s home. In recent years, he loved visiting many of the National Parks with Barbara and other family members. He enjoyed gardening, tinkering in his basement, watching the New York Yankees, Miami Dolphins, and UCONN Women’s Basketball. Norman was a huge fan of Elvis, who dropped into a celebration of his 70th birthday in 2019. Norman believed in giving back to the community. He served in the U.S. Army National Guard from 1972 to 1977. A lifelong Roman Catholic, Norman was a communicant of St. Patrick’s parish in Farmington, Conn., and previously served on the Parish Council of St. Brigid’s Church in West Hartford. He also served eight years on the Board of Education in West Hartford and volunteered as a Youth and Travel Soccer Coach, and as a parent leader with Indian Princesses, where he was known as Chief Red Beard. He is survived by his wife, Barbara (Phillips) Sousa; his children, Amanda Eddy (Eric) of Farmington; Andrew Sousa (Christy) of West Hartford; and Kathryn Desjardins (Damon) of West Hartford; grandchildren Madelyn and Jack Eddy; Brady, Dylan, and Taylor Sousa; and Owen and Eleanor Desjardins; his sisters Dorothy Yeomans (Peter) of Andover; Penelope Auer (Richard) of Juno Beach, FL; Debra Schrank (Joseph) of Garner, NC; Sandra Jastrzebski (Theodore) of West Hartford; and Beverly Fitzsousa (Michael) of Madison; 18 nieces and nephews; 29 grand-nieces and grand-nephews; and sister-in-law MaryElizabeth Phillips of New Hampshire. Calling hours will be Monday, July 1, from 4-7 p.m. at Molloy Funeral Home, 906 Farmington Ave, West Hartford. A funeral mass will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 3 at the Church of St. Patrick, 110 Main Street, Farmington. Contributions in Norman’s memory may be made to the National Kidney Foundation (https://www.kidney.org/offices/nkf-serving-connecticut), Make-A- Wish Connecticut (https://wish.org/ct/ways-help-us), or the ALS Association (https://www.als.org/support/states/connecticut).