Newport Center

Norm Ratte, 77 years old, after a long and courageous struggle with cancer and ALS passed peacefully at home on Friday, September 21, 2018 Norm was born on June 14, 1941 in Springfield, Massachusetts to Robert L. and Marie Valerie Ratte. He was proud to tell everyone who asked his date of birth that he was born on "Flag Day."

Norm worked at Hamilton Standard in Windsor Locks, Connecticut from 1966 to 1969 as a test subject. Wearing a space suit he successfully completed more than forty tests, in vacuum conditions, which led to the qualification of the Apollo Lunar Backpack. He is one of a few people who went to the moon and back without ever leaving the ground.
He assisted in the writing of all test procedures used in the above tests and was responsible for facility engineering on the space simulator.

Norm was a very devoted employee of Jay Peak, Inc. For most of the twenty-five years he worked there he worked in the Security Department. Norm loved his job and Jay Peak could not have asked for a better ambassador of the mountain. He loved talking to people who asked be it in the grocery store or in Maine about Jay Peak. One of his saddest moments was when he had to retire.

In 1972, Norm married the love of his life Darlene Chaput. It was through her he learned to love animals and all of nature. On August 3, 1988, Norm, Darlene and their children Robin and Jay packed up and moved to Vermont from Connecticut to their 80 acre farm in Newport Center where they raised animals for their wool. After he and Darlene moved from the farm in 1996 to their little ranch house they had built on some land they kept from the farm, they loved traveling to the coast of Maine. Norm loved visiting the Nubble Light, his favorite Lighthouse. Norm was an avid artist and belonged to many art organizations. He loved his kitty Tiger who predeceased him.

Norm leaves his wife and best friend of forty-five years, Darlene. He also leaves his daughter Robin Farrow and her husband Brett Farrow, his granddaughter Alyssa Farrow, his son Jay Ratte and his wife Tonya Bingham Ratte, his son Timothy Ratte and his wife Jennifer Sarrel Ratte, his brother-in-law Bruce Chaput and his wife Jeanne Chaput, his niece Rebecca Chaput, his nephews Clinton Chaput and Nicholas Chaput and their spouses.

A service and celebration of his life will be held at a later date.

Should friends desire, memorial contributions can be made in Norm's name to the Pope Memorial Frontier Animal Shelter, 502 Strawberry Acres, Newport, Vermont 05855 or to the Orleans/Essex VNA & HOSPICE Inc., 46 Lakemont Road, Newport, Vermont 05855. The family also invites you to share your memories and condolences by visiting www.awrfh.com.