Buckland, MA – Norman Earl Boutwell, Sr., beloved husband of Cynthia A. Boutwell (Ryczek), passed away on February 28, 2026 at the age of 79. Norm was born to the late Earl and Cecelia (Miller) Boutwell of Buckland. Norm’s siblings are Richard Boutwell of Kansas City, MO and Christopher Boutwell (Marianne) of Turners Falls. He was predeceased by his sister Frances Boutwell DaRos.
Norm attended high school at Arms Academy in Shelburne Falls. He was known as “Zeke” to friends, a nickname he inherited from his older brother Dick in high school. After high school, Norm was drafted for Vietnam and went to Springfield for his Army physical but due to asthma he was not able to serve. He returned home to his parents’ house and when his mother saw him she said, “What, are you AWOL?”
Norm met Cindy in Adams, MA through a friend, and they immediately fell for each other! They were married on September 7, 1968, first living in Shelburne Falls. In 1980, Norm and Cindy bought their home in Buckland and lived there ever since.
Norm worked a variety of local jobs including delivering milk, apple picking at Apex Orchards, cooking at The Foxtown Coffee Shoppe, setting pins at the Shelburne Falls bowling alley, bartending at the Shelburne VFW on weekends, and digging graves at Arms Cemetery, though for the majority of his career Norman worked in the vending industry. He started with Pioneer Music Service and his route included businesses around western Mass, southern VT, and southern NH. He later worked for Dugas Music Service, before buying Pioneer Music Service and working for himself until retirement servicing juke box machines, pinballs, video games, pool tables and early on it also included cigarette and candy machines.
Norm enjoyed playing pool (billiards), cards notably pitch, and horseshoes, watching professional wrestling, NASCAR, old western movies, and Law and Order, having fires in the backyard, Budweiser, their pet dogs and birds, and spending time with his grandchildren. He was known for his unique sense of humor and countless jokes. Norm was also a member of the Shelburne Falls VFW and Shelburne Rod and Gun.
Norman leaves behind his children Norman Jr. (Tammy), Todd (Heather), Jamie (Lena), Jason (Kelley) and Michael; grandchildren Taylor, Shea, Cassidy, Hannah, Desiree, and Dylan; and great grandchildren Noah and Silas.
In keeping with Norm’s wishes, there will be no services. A family celebration of life will be held in late spring.
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