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Carol Martin posted a condolence
Sunday, October 27, 2024
Norm Julian was a big name in our household in Star. City and I am sorry to hear of his passing. Long after I left home, he regularly visited my Dad, Richard Martin, to report the first tomatoes ripening in the area. When my father died, he wrote a lovely column about him that the family will always treasure. He also wrote about the WWII experiences of my father and Uncle Allison, who lived next door. The land he purchased in Star City to build a house was part of my father’s extended garden. We were so glad that another gardener who appreciated the land and the richness of the soil would live there. I last spoke with him about a year ago where we commiserated on the budget cuts to the University. Rest in peace, Norm.
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Erica Lies posted a condolence
Friday, October 18, 2024
My dad, George Lies, was a big fan and friend of Norm, and his name was a regular part of conversation in my childhood home. He was a myth and a legend. I'm sorry to hear of his passing, and my mom and I send love and condolences to his friends and loved ones. Dad passed back in April, and I hope his and Norm's spirits are together somewhere, talking about writing and having a great time. It's truly a loss for Morgantown life and letters.
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Jeffrey Toquinto posted a condolence
Thursday, October 17, 2024
Norm was my neighbor. His father, Rocco, to this day is the single hardest working individual I've ever encountered. He worked from sun up to sunset every day of the year well into his 80s.
His mother was so quiet and sweet, and always had a kind word. Our families lived on corners opposite of one another.
As I grew up, Norm was already venturing onto his career path so I actually knew his parents as a child before I knew him. In my early journalism years I remember finally meeting him.
He gave me words of advice and I intently listened. Even at the earliest of stages of my career, I knew Norm had a unique gift, and a very "down home" writing style that clicked with those who read his work.
I would see him visiting his parents in his small 4x4 and would also go and have a chat with him. Eventually, his parents passed and my encounters would end up being at WVU games and, later, almost exclusively exchanges on social media.
Norm was not fond of large gatherings. I would often sit with him early at WVU sporting events in the press sections and he would generally leave early. I believe most who knew Norm, knew he valued his privacy, preferred small gatherings, and loved his place on Snake Hill.
His life seemed like a work of art to me - as a kid and as an adult. He took pleasure from the simplest of things in front of him and often related to that which was behind - his past. Growing up in North View in Clarksburg, there was nothing better than running across a column that mentioned our old neighborhood. The beauty of it was he did what he always did in whatever he wrote - he nailed it.
Norm came from good stock. He became good stock. And I was, and still am, proud to say he was my friend.
I used to joke with him that two of the greatest writers in West Virginia's history were born on corners opposite of one another. With Norm involved, I was at least half right.
Thanks for all the kind words, especially to a less-than-confident youngster. Thanks, mainly, for being what we should all strive to be - a decent human being and a good man.
Rest in peace Norm. Your work here is through.
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John Garlow posted a condolence
Tuesday, October 15, 2024
Norm was a great guy, funny with a folksy kind of friendly humor. As a builder I helped him put another story on his snake hill home. He treated us with home made wine. And he burned rolled up newspaper logs in his wood stove. He knew how to recycle old newspapers. He also was friends with my dad and wrote a wonderful column about him catching his true benevolent spirit. He was able to connect with people and see their true colors. A good life.
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Alan Lawson posted a condolence
Monday, October 14, 2024
Alan Lawson - was Norman's neighbor on Snake Hill while a student at WVU. I built a small house next to Norman's property that inspired him to also build a self made house using 100% recycled wood and materials. I gave him some recycled windows for his house. In return, he always left me with garlands of onions and his prized garlic. He would work the garden and always baked a chicken in two hub caps. My dog Wisker would pull the hub caps out of the fire and eat his chicken. Norman would say I owed him for another chicken. He would pick fresh garlic from the garden, put them between two slices of bread and call it lunch. He always had some of his special brewed "butter milk" as he called it - "fermented beer". He liked nutmeg beer, I thougt its was awful. A true friend and neighbor. One cold winter -15 below, he drove up to my house to check on me and Wisker to see if we needed anything. That's's the Norman I remember. He wrote just like he talked.
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Monique Leys uploaded photo(s)
Monday, October 14, 2024
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I met Julian first in his Star City garden . He volunteered for a green living project that we attended with my middle schooler Christine many years ago.
His garden was his pride and he shared his crop with his friends and neighbors. We propagated his early girl tomatoes and his cosmos and year after year the orange flowers were brightening up the block .
I was always very concerned to wind up in his newspaper column and because of the nature of our professional relationship we never could discuss the problems that were so dear to him. I am not surprised that he had a Wikipedia page.
So we talked about the old country his family came from, the polka dances he liked, the garden and his art. There was never enough time for his visits, invariably he was the first encounter of the day. He had so many stories and he would create an atmosphere of trust and inspiration for all of us involved in the visit.
He was a very creative artist of the written word, and on canvas.
I enjoyed his newspaper columns and was a bit intimidated by my poor knowledge of English, it did not bother him. As we shared a common friend in Elkins, who read one of his books, I know that his memory will live on far beyond Star City.
Over the years he shared some images of his paintings with me. One of the favorite images he sent me was of his “Dusk descends on Morgantown”. Another one was “Cosmos and pole beans”. His creations will be proudly displayed by his friends, and I hope to see his “Crucified Christ” in St Mary of Star City.
We also exchanged fruit trees and grow 2 heirloom trees from Julian.
There is the elderberry with the most beautiful spring blossom. Many elderberries attract the backyard birds and are a joy to watch.
We also received a mulberry. It is now an outside bonsai. It carries little berries, and Vernon gives it a lot of care and attention in memory of a good friend.
Bonsai trees can live for centuries, and I hope Julians creations and memories will last just as long.
Monique Leys & Vernon Odom
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Kim Hatton posted a condolence
Sunday, October 13, 2024
I'm so very saddened to read of Norm's passing. What a wonderful man this world has lost. I had read with much enjoyment his columns in the Dominion Post for years before I actually got to meet him in person.I worked for the Town of Star City when he decided to leave his home on Snake Hill and move 'to town'. And what was surely a loss to his neighbors there was a blessing for his new neighbors and new friends to be made in Star City. He'd come in the office every month to pay his utility bill in person while he spun us a yarn about something that had happened since the previous month. He was always such a delight to speak with. I'll always remember his ubiquitous pocketed vest, where he carried all his little necessities. I hope it's a comfort to his loved ones that I'm but one of the many, many people who will miss this special man. May his memory be a blessing
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Mary Marra posted a condolence
Sunday, October 13, 2024
With a whip quick sense of humor,
he saw the truth in people.
And spoke in prose,
of what he saw.
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Willa A. Evans posted a condolence
Friday, October 11, 2024
I met Norm several years ago because of the very special friendship he had with my sister Beverly. They discovered they had many common interests including creative writing, small town family life experiences, WVU sports and music, just to mention a few. While the two of them engaged in serious discussions sometimes most of their time together was a happy space for both of them. I will always remember Norm for his exceptional kindness and for being the true friend that Beverly needed.
Willa Adams Evans
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Nancy Abrams posted a condolence
Friday, October 11, 2024
Norm had a real presence in the Dominion Post newsroom. He paid attention to the world around him. And he was a great storyteller. His work, his garden, his friends and his Mountaineers brought him joy.
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Rocco Muriale posted a condolence
Friday, October 11, 2024
I always enjoyed our conversations about Clarksburg,North view and Turkey Knob. Rest in peace,my friend
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Chuck Lovinski planted a tree in memory of Norman Julian
Thursday, October 10, 2024
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Tylor Freeman posted a condolence
Thursday, October 10, 2024
I will never forget the great stories that cousin Norman would tell me. About family about his experiences in life and he had great wisdom and advice. I had many phone conversations with cousin Norman and he would always and the conversation with something inspirational or that had a lot of wisdom he also shared many stories with me about my great-grandparents Edith and Frank Bilotta. And what my great grandmother was like growing up which these stories made me smile very much and he was also very fond of my great-grandfather Frank he called him uncle Frankie. He would tell me about sitting on their porch having many conversations with both of them and he would just say they made me smile I love you cousin Norman and you will definitely be missed.
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John Pastor posted a condolence
Wednesday, October 9, 2024
I edited dozens of Norm’s columns before they would go to press, which gave me a special preview. In the newsroom, he delighted us with dozens of stories, including the exploits of roosters and of Mickey Furfari. He grew garlic and braided it, he made tea and carried it in a big old Stanley thermos that accompanied him to work every day, and he was proud of his family and his heritage. If you wanted to know what he was really thinking, you could always ask his friend Jerry Hosenozzle (His alter ego in his columns). We went separate ways in our lives, but I’ve always returned to memories of Norm.
A Memorial Tree was planted for Norman Julian
Wednesday, October 9, 2024
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We are deeply sorry for your loss ~ the staff at Hastings Funeral Home Join in honoring their life - plant a memorial tree
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The family of Norman Sebastian Julian uploaded a photo
Wednesday, October 9, 2024
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153 Spruce Street, Morgantown, West Virginia 26505 | Phone: (304) 292-8664 | Email: hastingsfuneralhome@gmail.com
