Obituary of Norman C. Lubeck

Norman C. Lubeck, Sr., 85, of Berkeley Heights, NJ, died at his home on April 23, 2020. Born to George F. Sr. and Lillian in Plainfield, NJ, Lubeck was a graduate of Seton Hall University and a US Army veteran. He worked as a NY construction project manager and Wall Street broker, before beginning his long career in real estate in Summit, NJ. Lubeck worked for many years with the Holmes Agency, as well as Summit Stonehaus, before establishing Woodward Properties, REALTORS, together with his wife, Roberta, and son, Robert, in affiliation with longtime real estate colleague and friend, Gloria Woodward, of Woodward Realty Group. Active in international real estate and relocation, he and Roberta operated Berkeley Relocation and he served as President of FIABCI, the International Real Estate Federation’s USA New York/Northeast Council. Over the years, he also served on his children’s parent teacher organizations, local condominium boards, Rotary, NJ boards and associations of REALTORS and the NJ REALTORS Educational Foundation. Norman was never happier than when his family gathered for a holiday dinner or special occasion, or when they travelled together to vacation in Maine, Bermuda, the Jersey Shore or Europe. While travelling extensively, for business, together with friends and family, or on their own adventures, Norman and his wife established friendships that have endured a lifetime. He had an artist’s eye, in that he could design the layout for a garden and then dig in, build the stone walls, do the planting, and tend to it over the years. He taught himself how to upholster furniture and cane chairs. He was a carpenter, an electrician, a painter, a paperhanger, a plumber, and a mason – he was not an auto mechanic. His laughter was infectious, his language sometimes salty, and his heart and compassion for others, boundless. He remembered everyone, and anyone who met him never forgot him. He was so terribly kind and thoughtful, and always remembered significant events in others’ lives. Lubeck was truly cross-generational, and equally comfortable playing on the floor with two-year-olds, having a beer with his children’s and grandchildren’s friends, or visiting and tending to those much more his senior. Along with Roberta, he leaves a legacy to their children of an appreciation for education, hard work, fun and the knowledge they could do and become whatever they wished. Lubeck is lovingly remembered by Roberta, his wife of 63 years; his children: Norman (Sue), Christopher (Beth), Elizabeth (Victor Bucossi), James (MaryBeth), and Robert; his grandchildren: Alison Bucossi (Evan Karetzky), Andrew Bucossi, Tyler, Alex, Sam, Lauren, Dylan, Lily, Nina, and Hannah Lubeck; and his great-grandchildren: Madison and Eloise Karetzky. He will also be fondly remembered by Amy Bucossi Onder (Tom) and Stella; and niece and nephews: Nancy and Chip (Sally) Lubeck, and John (Helen) and Tony (Samina) Denninger. He was pre-deceased by his brother, George F. (Jean). In lieu of flowers, the family encourages contributions in Norman’s name to the Berkeley Heights Rescue Squad or the NJ REALTORS Educational Foundation.