Norman Hobbie
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Norman Joseph Hobbie on January 12, 2026, at the age of 94. Norm was cherished by his family, his many friends and students, and he leaves behind a lasting legacy of a life filled with passionate interests and notable accomplishments. Everyone who knew Norm recognized he saw life not as a half-filled cup, but as one threequarters full. He felt so blessed to have had a long life to drink it to full measure.
Norm died in the Cranford, N.J., house he was born in, built by his Lebanese family who had immigrated to America in the early 20th Century. He attended Cranford High School, Union Junior College (now Union College of Union County, NJ), and Davis & Elkins College, which had granted him a basketball scholarship, graduating with a degree in English.
In 1953, he embarked on what he would call his “cloak and dagger years,” serving in Japan as an agent of the U.S. Army’s Counterintelligence Corps (CIC), where he became close with many of his Japanese colleagues and government officials. Upon his return to the U.S., he began a 33-year career in public relations with Western Electric/AT&T, acting as the “right-hand man” to the general managers of the Guilford Center and Kearny Plant and the president of AT&T Technologies, and contributing to such major milestones as the Safeguard Project and the company’s transition from the “Ma Bell” monopoly to a competitive powerhouse. In 1959, Norm retired not “from” but “to” – beginning a 33-year career as “Prof Norm,” teaching interpersonal communications and public speaking at the college level – at Fairleigh Dickinson, Kean University and Union County College. He also participated in a NJ state program to bring college credits to people in prisons. Norm said this phase of his career filled him with happiness because he was able to reach students with skills and insights that would help them for the rest of their lives.
Norm was a man of many passionate interests. Primary was his love for and pride in his three children and their families. He was enriched by his Lebanese culture, cuisine, and immigrant heritage – the story of his family’s valiant progress from dry goods peddlers in Upstate New York to an extended family of accomplished American citizens. He loved his vegetable garden, his favorite sports teams and, until fairly late in life, active participation as an athlete in basketball, softball, and tennis. He could always be found in the middle of at least one good book, or soaking up nature at his favorite Echo Lake Park or the Jersey Shore. In his later years, among his proudest accomplishments was the self-publication of three books. “The First One Hundred Years in America: Recollections of a Lebanese-American Grandson,” was the coming to America story of his family and their friends. It inspired so many of his family and friends to send him their stories that he followed up with a second book that captured them all, subtitled “Other Voices.” His third book, about to be printed, is a gift to his descendants of his life lessons and the recounting of his and his children’s life stories.
Norm was known for his infectious sense of humor, his work ethic, and his sense of integrity and fairness. While a man of many talents and accomplishments, Norm respected humility in others and aspired to it for himself. Above all, Norm was a people person. One source of the great devotion felt by so many was that it was never about himself: Norm always looked out for the feelings and needs of others, making people feel special, heard, understood, and valued.
Norm was married to Josephine Ann Gallo of Lyndhurst, New Jersey, who passed away in November 2021. He is survived by the pride and joys of his life: his children, Gregg, Chris, and Meg; their spouses Brigid, Marie, and Donnie; his grandchildren Drew, Jared and wife Kitty, Lauren, Cory, Elizabeth, Christopher Jr, Caroline, Taylor, and his great grandson, Albert. It was Norm’s wish to have a private funeral ceremony.
