MSG NORMAN S. ABRAMSON to TAPs

RAFINCO lost its senior statesman. He was 98 at the time of his passing.
Born Oct. 5, 1917, in Manhattan, New York City, to Joseph and Eva (Cohen) Abramson, passed away in Scottsdale, AZ. He was well educated in the New York City public schools system (1922 - 1934). 
He was a "war baby". Ergo, he took part in three wars. Altho he never considered himself a "Warrior": World War II (1942 - 1945); Korea (1950 - 1951); Vietnam (1967 - 1968/71). He saw duty in almost a dozen major capitals of the world, and was retired by the U.S. Army as a Senior Non-Commissioned Officer, Feb. 1972. 
He made his way to South Florida to start life anew. He met and quickly married Eleanor G. Lowen (2ndmarriage for both) and the "second time around was, indeed, sweeter". The climate in greater Miami, Florida, in the 1970's, meteorologic, sociologic, and demographic, was not that great! Norman and Eleanor were at or very near retirement ages, so they left the work force, and impulsively relocated to Scottsdale, Arizona, a most serendipitous move, in March 1978. Our years were beginning to become golden! Eleanor delighted in being a club-woman, volunteering, playing Bridge and Mahjong. Norman self-actualized at Scottsdale Community College and Arizona State University. We traveled as much as our income and energy permitted. In 1992, calamity struck!! Eleanor was afflicted with a brain-cell disorder in the Alzheimer's-Parkinson's spectrum. 20th century medicine could assess and name her disorder; it could do precious little to cure or treat it.. Norman was her caregiver, and watched her die a slow death, August 2000!!! 
Norman had no affinity for organized religions. Rather, he worshipped the philosophy of science, as a devoted layman. In his senior years, when sound sleep eluded him, he thought that, just perhaps, he understood the relationship of the strong nuclear force, the weak nuclear force, and electro-magnetism! (Einstein's theories, now generally accepted by the scientific world; gravity is still not well understood). He strongly believed that all life on earth was a chemical accident some two or three billion years ago. (Now, only very recently, it is called biochemical synthesis?). He "practiced no virtue; he committed no sin". (Buddhist Sutra). He failed in his duty to his species by leaving no progeny! But, Norman feels that he must have done something right. Since it is given to few to be able to compose and edit their own obituaries… Norman's remains (mostly calcium and carbon) will join the ashes of his dear wife, Eleanor, at the National Memorial Cemetery, North Cave Creek Road, (a most delightful place) thanks to the State of Arizona and U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs. Date of death: October 19, 2015. Arrangements: Messinger Mortuary, Indian School Rd. Scottsdale.