- Date Of Birth: December 10, 1935
- Date Of Death: April 13, 2020
- State: Colorado
Norman Earl Pawlowski was born in Alpena, South Dakota, December 10, 1935. After more than 21 months of (Long Term Care) he passed away April, 13, 2020. He was born the 7th child “the baby” of George and Anna (Daleske) Pawlowski. His love of sports and hunting filled his life at a young age. Although he accidentally shot his own big toe at age 10, this didn’t impede his love for hunting geese, pheasants, ducks and rabbits.
His athletic prowess developed as he practiced basketball on packed dirt, shooting at a hoop that was made from a bushel basket nailed to a wooden pole. He still holds scoring records in basketball at Alpena High School. At the age of 17, he received a basketball scholarship to General Beadle State Teachers College (now Dakota State University). However, upon his arrival at school, he was informed that he would not be able to play basketball as a Freshman, unless he suited up for the football team. He reluctantly headed for the first practice and was confused and a bit skeptical of the pads as football was not played at Alpena HS. He also did not care for being hit and soon left school to enlist in the Marines.
This is where he met his wife to be, Janice (Jan) Mosser, as she was the hall receptionist. While at CSU he received a Bachelor of Science degree in 1963 and in 1965 earned a Master’s degree in Guidance Counseling. After teaching and coaching sports in Bushnell, Nebraska, he married Jan on May 22nd, 1966. Immediately after, they traveled to Germany, where he spent a year teaching and counseling Army brats in Vilseck. Upon their return to Colorado, he was hired as a Counselor at Brighton High School. He spent 30 years at BHS counseling, coaching, and teaching, retiring in 1997. During his tenure, he coached Freshman Boys basketball (1990 Skyline League Champs), Girls Tennis, and Girls Golf. However, he fostered his primary love, golf, as he served 40 years (half of his life) as Head Boys Golf Coach, winning Skyline League Championships in 1996 and 1997. He coached his son Todd and two of his grandsons during each of their 4 years at BHS, ultimately retiring in 2015.
Norm and Jan purchased Varsity Sporting Goods in 1984 and for 31 years they served the Brighton area providing uniforms, trophies, awards, letter jackets, and embroidered products. He became a silk screening master and was invaluable as the clean-up and fix-it man! They sold the business in 2015, the same year he retired from coaching golf.
His passion for sports and his competitive nature was prevalent throughout his life. At CSU, his dorm’s intramural basketball team won a league title and he was the intramural handball champion. While at CSU, he spent his winters on ski patrol and his summer months teaching biology and sports at a 4-H camp near Walsh, CO.
After moving to Brighton, Norm’s passion for sports and the outdoors continued. He won several tournaments in the Riverdale Men’s Club and aced hole number 17, during a Men’s Club event in 2005. He participated in the Estes Park Labor Day weekend golf tournament for more than 35 years and was the senior flight winner in 1997. He also managed the fields and umpires for Brighton’s adult softball leagues and worked gate admissions at Mile High Kennel Club (Greyhound racing). Prior to purchasing Varsity, he owned and operated Paw’s Timber, cutting, chopping, and delivering firewood.
When Jan became Brighton’s first woman Mayor in 2001, he appreciated the title of being Brighton’s first 1st Man. He was active in the community as 1st Man, attending events and ribbon cuttings for 8+ years. In November 2018, Norm and Jan were given the distinction of having the Youth Sports Complex renamed Norm and Jan Pawlowski Park. They were both incredibly honored to be recognized for their commitment to education, commerce, and community.
Norm was a dedicated husband, father, and grandfather. He was known for his creative solutions and jerry-rigging techniques.
Unfortunately, due to his January 2018 diagnosis, Corticobasal Degeneration, (where the motor part of the brain just slowly goes to sleep) he required long term care at the Brighton Avamere facility. He became a favorite of the Certified Nurse Assistants and Nurse staff due to his sense of humor.
He was preceded in death by his parents, and brothers Donald of South Dakota and George of Arvada. He is survived by his wife Jan, son Todd (Shelly) Pawlowski and their children Brock, Brice, and Jamie of Commerce City; daughter Jill (Scott) McCollum of Thornton and their son Jordan (Jackie) and Great Grandson Jaden (born March 18 2021) DelRoss of NorthGlenn; brother Marvin (Shirley) of Redmond, OR; Sisters, Doris Groenhoff of Boulder; and Margaret Sample of Mesa, AZ (unfortunately his sister Luetta O’Brien of Oakdale, CA passed away July 29, 2020.) ; also surviving are seven nieces and five nephews.
