Norman Blum

Norman Blum, 94, of Summit died Nov. 5, 2014. Born in Newark, he was a lifelong resident of Maplewood before moving to Summit last April. 

Mr. Blum joined his father as a building contractor, and later, on his own, constructed residential homes, apartment buildings, and office buildings throughout New Jersey. In 1966, he purchased Grewe Plastics in Newark, a plastics manufacturing and distribution company, where he worked with his son Allen until his death.

He graduated from Weequahic High School in Newark and attended North Carolina State College in Raleigh and veterinary school at Middlesex College in Waltham, Mass. 

His studies were interrupted when he enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1942. He served as a surgical assistant in the 55th Field Hospital in England during World War II, and was honorably discharged in 1946 with the rank of Staff Sergeant.

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He was an avid collector of sporting memorabilia, including decoys of the Thousand Islands, a region straddling the U.S. and Canadian border. He also had a cottage and property on Wellesley Island, part of the region, spending many years at “Lambie Point.”

He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Renee; two daughters, Deborah Blum and Judith Schwartz; two sons, Allen (Susan) and John (Gina); eight grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Services were held Nov. 9 with arrangements by Menorah Chapels at Millburn, Union.