Norman E. Toti, 91, passed away peacefully on May 4, 2025, in his Bedford, MA home with Judie, his wife of 40 years, at his side. He was born on July 3, 1933, in Springfield, MA to the late John Philip Toti and Nora Clara (Chechile) Toti.

Norm, known as Gus to his western MA family and friends, grew up in Springfield and graduated from Springfield Technical High School in 1951. He lived there until 1957 except for four years of service in the U.S. Air Force (1953 – 1957).

During his service in the Air Force, Norm went through basic training at Sampson Air Force Based in Geneva, NY and then transferred to Lowry Air Force Base in Aurora, CO for 49 weeks of training in Electronic Fundamentals and as an APG37 & APG40 Hughes Airborne Radar Technician. Upon graduation, he was assigned to the 86th Fighter Intercept Squadron in Youngstown, OH. He was honorably discharged in March 1957.

For a period before and after his service in the Air Force, Norm worked at the Springfield Federal Armory. He then spent about 1.5 years working for RCA as a technical field representative on the Hughes E9 FCS (fire control system) at the Presque Isle Air Force Base in Maine.

Norm started working at Raytheon Company in 1959 in the factory test area. He transferred to HAWK Technical Publications where he spent the remainder of his career. His business travels took him to places as diverse as El Paso, TX, White Sands, NM, Huntsville, AL, Germany, and Panama. He retired in 1994 as a Senior Engineering Technical Writer/ Supervisor.

Norm loved all things outdoors – running/ jogging/ walking (logging 44,841 lifetime miles – or 1.8 times around the earth at the equator), bicycling, cross-country skiing, observing nature, and yard work. He also loved history – reading many books and watching many documentaries  – and staying current with financial and business current events. He also loved music, whether in the background at home, attending concerts with Judie, or hearing Judie practice and perform piano and classical guitar.

In addition to his wife Judie (Como), Norm is survived by his daughter Donna Howe, son Robert (Jacki), sister-in-law Anna Rose Toti and his three wonderful grandchildren Donald Howe, Sean Howe (Abbi), and Kyle Toti. Uncle Gus is also survived by his loving nieces Deb Curto, Dawn Marie Root, Melissa Miceli (Michael), Anne Marie Foley, Judi McCabe, Mary Rose Lombardi (Sebastian); nephews Dan Root, Tom Root (Pam), Jay Toti (Lorena), Ernest Toti Jr., Mark Toti; and an ever-increasing number of great-nieces, great-nephews, great-great nieces, and great-great nephews. He was pre-deceased by his brothers Filippo, Ernest, and John Jr., sisters Paulina and Rose Marie; niece Carol Ann Hess and nephew Michael Toti.

At Norm's request, visitations and services will be held in Springfield and Bedford. The Springfield visitation is on Sunday, May 18, from 10:30am – 1:30pm, with a service to follow the visitation, at Forastiere Funeral Home, 45 Locust St., Springfield MA. The Bedford visitation is on Monday, May 19, from 4:00 – 7:00pm, at Bedford Funeral Home, 167 Great Rd, Bedford, MA. Services will be held on Tuesday, May 20, at 11:00 am, at Bedford Funeral Home and will be immediately followed by burial with military honors at Shawsheen Cemetery, 15 Shawsheen Rd., Bedford.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Bedford Historical Society, 16 South Rd., Bedford, MA 01730 or the Handel and Haydn Society, 9 Harcourt St., Boston, MA 02116.