ROCKPORT — Dennis E. Norton, 71, passed away with the love of his life, Doris, by his side on December 6, 2022, on the beautiful island of Maui. Dennis was seriously injured November 25 while on vacation with his
loving family. 

Born in Skowhegan, July 20, 1951, he was the son of B. Eugene and Doris Viles Norton. In 1967, his family moved to Rockland where he graduated from Rockland District High School in 1969. Dennis was a lifelong learner. He graduated from University of New Hampshire in 1973 and went on to pursue his MBA at University of Maine at Orono.

After completing his two-day CPA exam, he drove home exhausted, not realizing he was driving on a flat tire. Later in life Dennis became accredited in Business Valuations. He also went on to become a licensed realtor and investment adviser. 

In August of 1971, Dennis married Doris Pease and they started their life together that spanned over 51 years. Dennis and Doris’s son, Michael, was born in 1976 and daughter, Mary, completed the family in 1980.

For the first 10 years of marriage, Dennis and Doris moved many times to be near college or jobs. The last stop was Den working as manager of accounting for the Dunfey Hotels in New Hampshire. It was then that Dennis decided he wanted to spend his time in public accounting and moved back to Rockland. In 1982, he joined with Richard Simoneau to form Simoneau and Norton, CPAs. Dennis led the firm until retiring as managing partner of Norton, Masters, Fowlie and Engelberg  in 2017. 

Dennis loved helping his family, friends, clients and community. He was always available to fundraise and advocate for causes dear to his heart. During the 90s Dennis served on the SAD 5 school board. He spearheaded efforts to raise money to save football at Rockland District High School when it was eliminated from the school budget. He was involved in starting the Rockland Pee Wee Football Program which lives on as Oceanside Pee Wee Football. As part of another volunteer effort, Dennis and others raised money to acquire lights for Wasgatt Field so the team could play night games. He also worked to renovate locker rooms at the former Rockland High School. While president of Rockland Little League, Dennis aided in obtaining the land on Thomaston Street to build the present-day Little League fields. His latest accomplishment was raising over $300,000 to rejuvenate Oceanside’s baseball and softball fields in 2018. Dennis spent countless hours trying to provide the best for local youth. His family would like to thank that village of people who helped with every car wash, dunk tank, candy bar sale, tag day, lawn sale and auction. He loved working on each and every project. 

Recently, Dennis served as a Director for Rockland Savings Bank and was a director for the Veteran’s Memorial Wall. These organizations were dear to him. 

It was recently said that Dennis was the most optimistic person. He would constantly remind people that everything would be okay and if it wasn’t, then he would fix it. He was always willing to lend a hand or even a shirt or tie. Dennis was a strong but gentle medical advocate for his family. He would attend every appointment armed with a notepad and a list of questions. He spent hours researching and would become as close to an expert as he could. He was strong in his beliefs to stand up for others and always willing to go the extra mile on their behalf. 

Dennis’s greatest joy in life was his family. His oldest grandson, Michael Jr, named him Gigi. From that moment on he was Gigi or Gig to his grandchildren and many of their friends. If you had seen him lately, you most likely heard about one or all of his grandchildren’s accomplishments. He was a fixture at any of his grandsons’ sporting events and never missed one of his granddaughter’s dance performances. He was delighted to accompany her to Florida in February of 2020 to watch her perform at Disney Springs. 

Doris’s family camp became Dennis and Doris’s special place where they would retreat to each summer. Doris was fortunate to find a life partner who loved camp as much as she did. Dennis could be found mowing the lawn, hanging lights, roasting a pig, playing cornhole, floating or paddleboarding. He was especially proud to be slalom water skiing as much as possible and loved it when he was able to double ski with Mary, Hunter or Everett. He was truly happy watching others enjoy the lake as much as he did. 

Dennis was also an avid hunter who enjoyed spending November in the woods with family and friends. In   1999 he proudly joined Maine’s Big Buck club. 

Dennis was predeceased by his father in 1956, his sister Susan Kenney, his nephews Phillip Jura and Fred Locke and niece Lisa Locke. He was the beloved son-in-law of the late Willard and Jonnie Pease. 

Den is survived by his wife of over 51 years, Doris Pease Norton. His son, Michael Norton, Sr. and his grandsons Michael Norton, Jr. and Hunter Norton; his daughter, Mary Norton Tolman, and her husband, who was like a son to Dennis, Jeremy Tolman; his only granddaughter Natalie Tolman and grandson Everett Tolman; his mother and stepfather, Doris and Nate Beal; brothers Kenneth Norton and his partner Diane, Dan Norton and his wife Gail; a sister Linda Jura and her partner Wayne; maternal uncles and aunts Earl and Polly Viles, Walter Viles and Donald and Kathy Viles; a brother and sister-in-law, Willard (Skip) and Cheryl Pease; nieces Angela Pease Armstrong, Dawn Pease Bradeen, Samantha Pease Bouffard, Jennifer Jura, Erika Norton and Roxanne Johnson; nephews Daniel Pease, Andrew Jura, Aaron Norton and Howard Locke, Jr., as well as many beloved cousins on both sides of his family. 

A memorial service will be held Wednesday, January 11, 2023, beginning at 4 p.m., with a reception following until 7 p.m., at the Samoset Resort, 220 Warrenton St, Rockport.

Donations may be made in Dennis’ name to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Checks may be made payable to Make-A-Wish Maine, 66 Mussey Road, Scarborough, ME 04074.

To share a memory or story with the Norton family, please visit their online Book of Memories at www.bchfh.com.

Arrangements are in the care of Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock Street, Rockland, ME 04841