Norman “Coach Norm” Perry
07/29/2021
Norman “Coach Norm” Perry passed away on July 29, 2021 after a 2-week battle with Sepsis. He was born in Dearborn, Michigan on August 31, 1962 to Garmie and Molly Perry. He went by many names during his life- Norm, Boss Man, Coach, and Teddy Bear, but his favorite names were the ones given by his children and grandchildren- Papa Goose, Daddy, Daddio, and Papaw.
He has been a pillar of the softball community for 30 years, not only coaching his own daughters – Cassie Perry, Jessie Perry, Lacie Perry, and DeLanie Perry- but also building skills, work ethic, and life lessons with hundreds of youth athletes across the state. The outpouring of love from the softball community speaks of a “great man,” a “dedicated coach,” and a man filled with passion for the sport and love for every life he touched with his mentoring.
When he wasn’t sitting on his well-worn softball bucket, he loved fishing and reminiscing about hunting stories about his son, Cody Perry. More than anything though, he and wife Constance “Coni” Perry adore their seven grandchildren. You will find photos of him holding every baby in the family like they were the most precious gift he had ever received. Many days you could find him in his socks tending to his family’s heirloom green beans and his favorite pineapples with his grandsons Kooper and Logan in tow, helping them pick beans and holding an over-sized, metal watering can.
Saturday mornings not spent on the ball field were spent playing Dungeons and Dragons with his daughters and friends. On chilly February nights you could find him listening to the Saturday Night Gold Rush on the radio while shrimping with his son, daughters, and son-in-laws. At holidays you would find him bothering his wife in the kitchen and sneaking bits of food before dinner time. He loved scary stories and spooking his kiddos with tales of the Pine Tree Cat or running through the house on his knees pretending to be a leprechaun. However, the best trick he ever played was convincing his kids and grandkids he was Santa Claus for the last 20 years. For all of us, he will always be a memory of half-moon, gold-wire glasses perched on the end of his nose and laughing a deep belly laugh of ho-ho-hos every December.
In addition to his wife, children, grandchildren, and mother, Norman is survived by his sisters Michelle, Glenda, and Heather. His memorial will be held on Saturday, August 7, 2021 at 9:30AM on a softball field because there is no better place to honor his memory. Please join us to share memories of Coach Norm at Valentine Park- 1511 W. French Ave., Orange City, FL 32763.
Coach Norm’s passing was unexpected and devastating for his family, so if you would like to help them through this time, please visit their GoFundMe at the link below: