Norman Everette “Fat” Gillette

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Norman Everette “Fat” Gillette Veteran

Birth
Nichols, Tioga County, New York, USA
Death
18 Jul 1984 (aged 67)
Greene, Chenango County, New York, USA
Burial
Greene, Chenango County, New York, USA Add to Map
Plot
1071
Memorial ID
View Source
New York State Birth Certificate
Norman Everette Gillette
Born: 7 Sep 1916
Place of birth: Village of Nichols, Tioga, New York
Birth Certificate was obtained on 16 Jun 2003 and is in my possession.

1920 Greene, Chenango, NY
Enumerated 2 Jan 1920
Ralph B Gillette 32 PA proprietor motion picture house
Anna Gillette 33 PA wife
Charles Gillette 15 PA son
Luella Gillette 14 PA daughter
Reginald Gillette 13 NY son
Florence Gillette 9 NY daughter
Harold Gillette 5 NY son
Norman Gillette 3 NY son
Byron Gillette 2 NY son

1925 New York State Census
Greene, Chenango, NY
Ralph B. Gillette 40 theater operator
Anna M. Gillette 40 wife
Charles K. Gillette 21 son
Florence A. Gillette 14 daughter
Harold E. Gillette 9 son
Norman E. Gillette 8 son
Byron L. Gillette 7 son
Edwin P. Davey 61 father-in-law works at theater
Anna W. Gillette 20 daughter-in-law (married to Charles)
Kenneth E. Gillette 75 days grandson

1930 Greene, Chenango, NY
Enumerated 10 Apr 1930
South Chenango Street
Ralph Gillette 43 PA proprietor theater
Anna Gillette 43 PA wife
Harold Gillette 14 NY son
Norman Gillette 13 NY son
Byron Gillette 12 NY son

Graduated Greene High School Class of 1936.

Chenango American, Greene, Chenango, NY
Thursday, 1 Dec 1938, Front Page
Theatre Employee Burned When Film Explodes
"Norman Gillette, motion picture operator at the Greene Theatre, was severely burned about the face, chest and back when a film exploded at the theatre Saturday.
Mr. Gillette discovered the blaze in a room adjoining the one in which he was working and seizing a fire extinguisher he opened the door to battle the flames just as the film exploded. He was knocked unconscious by the blast and was picked up and carried from the building by Newton Boyce and Robert Rowse.
B.F. Spanle, arriving from his business place next door with a fire extinguisher, prevented the spread of the flames to the auditorium until fireman arrived.
Considerable damage was caused to the theatre including destruction of the sound system and a considerable footage of film, and damage to draperies and carpet.
Men worked on the sound system all night and the theatre operated as usual Sunfay night."
Update:
Chenango American, Thursday, 8 Dec 1938, Page 5
"Norman Gillette, who was severely burned in the theatre fire is able to be out again."

1940 Greene, Chenango, NY
Enumerated 15 Apr 1940
South Chenango Street
Ralph Gillette 52 PA fruit grower, farm
Charles Gillette 36 PA son, operator, theater
Norman Gillette 23 NY son projector operator, theater

Enlisted in the U.S. Army on 21 Mar 1941 at Syracuse, NY and received basic and ordnance training at Aberdeen, MD before being transferred to Camp Davis, NC where his unit prepared various outfits for overseas.

After six months at Camp Davis, the unit was moved to Fort Dix, NJ from where they left for England. They spent two and one half months at Tidworth, England preparing the 1st Armored Division for the invasion of Africa and then followed the division to Africa a month later to follow it from Oran to Tunis.

The next assignment was in Naples, Italy where, on 30 Sep 1943, they began supplying the 82nd Airborne Division with ordnance material and repairing guns. Later they went to Casino and then back to Anzio where they landed on D plus 1 and remained for one and a half months. After that they were moved to Rome where they joined the 45th Division. Training near Salerno followed for the invasion of France where they entered D plus 10. They later moved to Alsace and finally into Germany where they were stationed at Manheim, Bamberg, Nuremburg and Munich.

After three months at Munich, Norman returned to the states to receive his discharge on 11 Aug. He received the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Campaign ribbon with 7 battle stars, American Theater Campaign ribbon, Good Conduct medal, Victory medal, American Defense Service medal and a Meritorious Unit citation.

The following was sometime during Fat's service in the Army, unknown exactly where, where or what paper but probably The Chenango American.
"Corp. Norman Gillette in a letter written August 29 writes that he has enjoyed a show put on by Bob Hope and Frances Langford. "It was so good to laugh again." he wrote. He had been swimming in the very blue Mediterranean but would gladly walk to "Genny."

Chenango American Thursday, 3 Jun 1946
"Corp. Norman Gillette is home having been discharged from service."

According to an article about baseball in the Chenango American 18 Apr 1946, "Norman "Fat" Gillette, first man to leave Greene for service."

Chenango American Greene, Chenango, NY
Thursday 16 Jan 1947
Local Events of 1946
January 10 1946
"Norman Gillette and Alryn Willey purchased Greene Sweet Shop from Reginald Gillette."

Chenango American, Thursday, 11 May 1950
"Don't go jumping to any conclusions Bill. Our inside dope on the census figures may be as wild as Fat Gillette's throwing arm was in last Sunday's baseball game."

New York Marriage Index
Groom: Norman E. Gillette
Bride: Ella L. Bixby
Married 29 Mar 1952 Greene, Chenango, NY

The Chenango American and Whitney Point Reporter 19 Aug 1970
Greene Personals
"Mr. and Mrs. Norman (Fat and Ella) Gillette, who drove his father, Ralph B. Gillette to Ballston Lake to visit his daughter, Mrs. Luella Ingraham, stayed over night at the Robert Ingraham home (16 Eastwood Drive, Balston Lake, NY). The senior Mr. Gillette, who observed his 83rd birthday August 1, at one time owned and operated theaters in Greene (Chenango County) and Whitney Point (Broome County). Mrs. (Luella) Ingraham also had a birthday August 1."

Norman was a member of the Berean Bible Church in Greene. He retired from Link Aviation in Binghamton, Broome, NY, where he was machinist, after 27 years of service. He leaves his wife, 2 children, a step son; 4 grandchildren; sisters Mrs. Louella Ingraham of Greene, and Mrs. Florence Troy of Norwich along with several nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews.

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Name: Norman E. Gillette
Gender: Male
Birth Date: 7 Sep 1916
Death Date: 18 Jul 1984
Enlistment Branch: ARMY
Enlistment Date: 24 Mar 1941
Discharge Date: 11 Aug 1945
Page number 1
New York State Birth Certificate
Norman Everette Gillette
Born: 7 Sep 1916
Place of birth: Village of Nichols, Tioga, New York
Birth Certificate was obtained on 16 Jun 2003 and is in my possession.

1920 Greene, Chenango, NY
Enumerated 2 Jan 1920
Ralph B Gillette 32 PA proprietor motion picture house
Anna Gillette 33 PA wife
Charles Gillette 15 PA son
Luella Gillette 14 PA daughter
Reginald Gillette 13 NY son
Florence Gillette 9 NY daughter
Harold Gillette 5 NY son
Norman Gillette 3 NY son
Byron Gillette 2 NY son

1925 New York State Census
Greene, Chenango, NY
Ralph B. Gillette 40 theater operator
Anna M. Gillette 40 wife
Charles K. Gillette 21 son
Florence A. Gillette 14 daughter
Harold E. Gillette 9 son
Norman E. Gillette 8 son
Byron L. Gillette 7 son
Edwin P. Davey 61 father-in-law works at theater
Anna W. Gillette 20 daughter-in-law (married to Charles)
Kenneth E. Gillette 75 days grandson

1930 Greene, Chenango, NY
Enumerated 10 Apr 1930
South Chenango Street
Ralph Gillette 43 PA proprietor theater
Anna Gillette 43 PA wife
Harold Gillette 14 NY son
Norman Gillette 13 NY son
Byron Gillette 12 NY son

Graduated Greene High School Class of 1936.

Chenango American, Greene, Chenango, NY
Thursday, 1 Dec 1938, Front Page
Theatre Employee Burned When Film Explodes
"Norman Gillette, motion picture operator at the Greene Theatre, was severely burned about the face, chest and back when a film exploded at the theatre Saturday.
Mr. Gillette discovered the blaze in a room adjoining the one in which he was working and seizing a fire extinguisher he opened the door to battle the flames just as the film exploded. He was knocked unconscious by the blast and was picked up and carried from the building by Newton Boyce and Robert Rowse.
B.F. Spanle, arriving from his business place next door with a fire extinguisher, prevented the spread of the flames to the auditorium until fireman arrived.
Considerable damage was caused to the theatre including destruction of the sound system and a considerable footage of film, and damage to draperies and carpet.
Men worked on the sound system all night and the theatre operated as usual Sunfay night."
Update:
Chenango American, Thursday, 8 Dec 1938, Page 5
"Norman Gillette, who was severely burned in the theatre fire is able to be out again."

1940 Greene, Chenango, NY
Enumerated 15 Apr 1940
South Chenango Street
Ralph Gillette 52 PA fruit grower, farm
Charles Gillette 36 PA son, operator, theater
Norman Gillette 23 NY son projector operator, theater

Enlisted in the U.S. Army on 21 Mar 1941 at Syracuse, NY and received basic and ordnance training at Aberdeen, MD before being transferred to Camp Davis, NC where his unit prepared various outfits for overseas.

After six months at Camp Davis, the unit was moved to Fort Dix, NJ from where they left for England. They spent two and one half months at Tidworth, England preparing the 1st Armored Division for the invasion of Africa and then followed the division to Africa a month later to follow it from Oran to Tunis.

The next assignment was in Naples, Italy where, on 30 Sep 1943, they began supplying the 82nd Airborne Division with ordnance material and repairing guns. Later they went to Casino and then back to Anzio where they landed on D plus 1 and remained for one and a half months. After that they were moved to Rome where they joined the 45th Division. Training near Salerno followed for the invasion of France where they entered D plus 10. They later moved to Alsace and finally into Germany where they were stationed at Manheim, Bamberg, Nuremburg and Munich.

After three months at Munich, Norman returned to the states to receive his discharge on 11 Aug. He received the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Campaign ribbon with 7 battle stars, American Theater Campaign ribbon, Good Conduct medal, Victory medal, American Defense Service medal and a Meritorious Unit citation.

The following was sometime during Fat's service in the Army, unknown exactly where, where or what paper but probably The Chenango American.
"Corp. Norman Gillette in a letter written August 29 writes that he has enjoyed a show put on by Bob Hope and Frances Langford. "It was so good to laugh again." he wrote. He had been swimming in the very blue Mediterranean but would gladly walk to "Genny."

Chenango American Thursday, 3 Jun 1946
"Corp. Norman Gillette is home having been discharged from service."

According to an article about baseball in the Chenango American 18 Apr 1946, "Norman "Fat" Gillette, first man to leave Greene for service."

Chenango American Greene, Chenango, NY
Thursday 16 Jan 1947
Local Events of 1946
January 10 1946
"Norman Gillette and Alryn Willey purchased Greene Sweet Shop from Reginald Gillette."

Chenango American, Thursday, 11 May 1950
"Don't go jumping to any conclusions Bill. Our inside dope on the census figures may be as wild as Fat Gillette's throwing arm was in last Sunday's baseball game."

New York Marriage Index
Groom: Norman E. Gillette
Bride: Ella L. Bixby
Married 29 Mar 1952 Greene, Chenango, NY

The Chenango American and Whitney Point Reporter 19 Aug 1970
Greene Personals
"Mr. and Mrs. Norman (Fat and Ella) Gillette, who drove his father, Ralph B. Gillette to Ballston Lake to visit his daughter, Mrs. Luella Ingraham, stayed over night at the Robert Ingraham home (16 Eastwood Drive, Balston Lake, NY). The senior Mr. Gillette, who observed his 83rd birthday August 1, at one time owned and operated theaters in Greene (Chenango County) and Whitney Point (Broome County). Mrs. (Luella) Ingraham also had a birthday August 1."

Norman was a member of the Berean Bible Church in Greene. He retired from Link Aviation in Binghamton, Broome, NY, where he was machinist, after 27 years of service. He leaves his wife, 2 children, a step son; 4 grandchildren; sisters Mrs. Louella Ingraham of Greene, and Mrs. Florence Troy of Norwich along with several nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews.

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Name: Norman E. Gillette
Gender: Male
Birth Date: 7 Sep 1916
Death Date: 18 Jul 1984
Enlistment Branch: ARMY
Enlistment Date: 24 Mar 1941
Discharge Date: 11 Aug 1945
Page number 1

Inscription

NORMAN E GILLETTE
TECH 5 US ARMY
WORLD WAR II
SEP 7 1916 JUL 18 1984

Gravesite Details

Interment here 23 Jul 1984 according to his death certificate and his obituary in the Press and Sun-Bulletin, Thursday, 19 Jul 1984.