About Norm Grabowski and His Life:

A Tribute to Norm Grabowski

February 5, 1933 / October 12, 2012

by Norm Farnum / Norm's nephew

He's my Uncle! I'm his nephew. He inspired me to pursue my dreams, and even gave me my first banjo! In fact, I would say that he was an inspiration to everyone he met.

Norman David Grabowski – Uncle Norm to all who loved him – was born to Anthony Adolph Grabowski & Mania Josephine Kochanczyk (who was from Galicia, Poland), on February 5th 1933, and just a few years into the depression. He was raised in Maplewood, New Jersey, with his Mom & Dad, his older brother Donald & big-sister Joanie. In 1945 the whole family moved to California to seek a better climate for Norm, and a better life generally. He suffered seriously from asthma, and bore that cross throughout his life.

A skill that he brought with him was ice-skating. He was very good, especially on hockey skates! He could soar around a rink forward or backwards and later taught us to skate, too.

Remembering some of the home movies I would watch as a youngster, I recall one with all the neighborhood children on their bicycles, each one in turn pedaling off as fast as he could, with our Uncle Norm – only 12 or 13 years old – “pedaling” off on a motorized bicycle that he had built himself! Already he showed signs of a budding trailblazer…

Growing up with him in California was a blast! He'd pick me up from elementary school on one of his custom motorcycles and sweep me into the side car, or give me a ride on one of his Corvair-powered bikes – and scare the wits out of me!

We were scuba diving buddies when I was only 12 years old! We took the course and often headed down to Long Beach at Norm’s Landing (imagine that). With all our gear stowed on board the Ria Rita (we jokingly referred to it as the “dia-rita”), and we would head out to Catalina Island. Me and all the other divers would suit-up in our conventional wet suits, Uncle Norm donning a bright orange model (which our instructor said was particularly attractive to sharks). Other times (often at his mother’s prodding), he’d take all the family sailing on a Cal-25 at the Newport sailing club at Newport Beach Marina. For a time, we even shopped for a “Chinese Junk” to live on!

Another passion we all shared – at least for a few seasons – was snow skiing. He’d take us to Mammoth or another resort, and we’d ski until we were nearly exhausted! Then, another weekend we’d all go to a car show – in Los Angeles, or to the desert – maybe Death Valley – or Solvang... and enjoy some Andersen’s Split-Pea Soup!

A favorite weekend family outing would be to drive down to San Diego… for the Halibut, and we’d always end up at Anthony’s Fish Grotto in La Jolla: He loved his fish’n chips, broiled salmon… and baked halibut!

Did I mention Uncle Norm’s flare for invention? He used to build some very interesting and unusual projects in that garage of his. When I was real little, I remember he glued some hollowed-out wood blocks together & built at least a few wonderful little sailboats for us to play with in the pool. In fact, he helped inspire me to learn to swim… by simply throwing me in and commanding me to! I swam!

I remember a particularly interesting project he undertook after nearly being killed on his Six-Pack, Corvair-powered motorcycle – but first a little background…

He was out cruising one time and proceeded thru an intersection after the light had turned green only to find a car careening thru at a high speed against the red light! It was a ‘hit and run’, throwing him off his motorcycle, the impact tearing off the entire front suspension. Blessed to be alive, he was on crutches for months. During this time of recovery – and fascinated with kites – he proceeded to build a GIANT kite for himself! It must have been roughly 10 or 12 feet tall by 6 or 8 feet wide. He used heavy clear plastic that he painted like a huge checkerboard, and flew it from the top of the hill for the whole San Fernando Valley to see. And see it they did! There was a colorful write-up in the local newspaper covering his escapade.

Another garage project was to build an 8x16 foot table that hinged up & down that I was able to assemble an HO train set upon as a youngster. It had an inner and outer oval route, and we enjoyed some incredible train wrecks together!

We had lots of adventures! He and my sister & grandparents would often go all over the San Fernando Valley in search of car parts, a chrome shop, visit other street-rodders, or attend another custom-car event. There was almost always a special treat en route: either some wonderful dive of a burger joint, or Will Wright’s Ice Cream! Yum!!

We'd laugh & cut-up whenever we traveled across town or across country – many times over – eventually to move the family to Lead Hill, Arkansas.

Besides wanting to get out of the So. California “rat-race”, one of the reasons we moved to Arkansas was the lakes. Uncle Norm & Nana (his mother – our grandmother) always loved being on the water. I remember going with him to shop for a speedboat. He found a 21’ Glastron-Carlson hydro-drive w/a big V-8 engine in it. We trailered it home and headed to Tucker Hollow boat launch to give it a trial run. Everything went just right until I noticed that the vessel was getting deeper in the water! He quickly powered back onto the trailer just before sinking it! We forgot to put that funny looking thing in – called the plug! And emptied out what must have been 100 gallons of lake water! I guess that was some of the “Polish” leaking out, too. Anyway, that craft would cruise at 60 mph on Bull Shoals, and we’d ski behind it!

What fun!

We'd water ski, go on expeditions, work on the house, work on the Hennway… and on that subject, let me mention about the time we were working together down in the garage polishing the components of the front axle. Uncle Norm was a stickler that all his custom cars were clean & shinning. He had jacked up the front of the truck, and to protect the chrome on the single-leaf spring, had inserted a cloth rag between it and the floor-jack to protect from any scratches. As it turned out, the jack was maladjusted and slipped causing the entire front of the truck to drop… momentarily pinching my hand between the right spindle bottom and jack-stand I was putting into position. It actually ‘bounced’ and in that split-second, I managed to recoil in time to prevent any serious damage. Uncle Norm helped me up to the kitchen where I promptly passed out… and that was the first time I ever needed stitches – I didn’t want my tendons exposed!

Between different car projects, we’d learn & practice new songs... He also helped me acquire my second banjo – a Gibson Mastertone! In fact, we worked right here at Diamond Hills Country Club. Between occasional movie calls, he tended the bar, Mary was a waitress, I was a waiter & later, maitre d'. He sang & performed to enrapt audiences. Later on, in Branson, he and I entertained at Silver Dollar City, and the Roy Clark Theater. Ghost Riders, the Good, the Bad & the Ugly, Those Were the Days… With guitar in hand, he would sing & whistle while I accompanied him on the banjo & sang harmony. He was always so animated, and often had the audience mesmerized – or in stitches – by his talents & spontaneous dialogue. That was all a hoot!

He was always devoted to his family. Some years later, after I married and had children, he cherished them as he did me when I was a little fellow. He always made himself available for birthdays for his great nieces & nephews – and there are six of 'em! He often attended our performances whenever the family performed at some local venue (such as a Silver Dollar City festival or Treasure Lake gig). In fact, one of his favorite ‘brands’ of music was of the western genre (did I tell you of the time he shot himself with a 38-special while practicing the quick-draw for a movie part?)

Well, here’s a song that Uncle Norm was particularly fond of: Continental Suit

[Marty Robbins’ Continental Suit sung here by Daniel & Benjamin Farnum]

There's much more I could say, but that would require a book! He was a huge influence in my life! In fact, in closing and on a more serious note, he and my grandmother were both partly responsible for all our family’s Christian foundation and, later, baptisms in the early ‘70s right there on Bear Creek arm of Bull Shoals Lake. When still in California, he made sure we all got to church on time, attending a Christian fellowship in North Hollywood or Glendale. In Arkansas, while I was still living at home, we sought-out & continued occasional fellowship. He never forgot his Christian roots, and I pray that someday we’ll be together in Glory. God bless our Uncle Norm. May he rest in peace.

[Baptism sung by Daniel and the Farnum Family]

We ended the service with a toast to our Uncle Norm and all sang...