Norma Van Buskirk, 73, Led Varied, Active Life

Norma Van Buskirk of Vineyard Haven, 73, died in New Delhi, India following a courageous battle with cancer on June 16.

Born March 13, 1929, the daughter of Norman and Ethel Chaffee, Norma was graduated from Bates College in 1951. She married Gary Somers and started a family, residing in Ipswich and later in Norway, Me. She enjoyed a wide range of activities with her family including education, skiing, camping, hiking, music, swimming, sports and travel; served as a Cub Scout and Girl Scout leader; was a member of the Norway Congregational Church Choir; a substitute teacher in public schools; taught classical piano privately from her home; sponsored an American Field Service Foreign Exchange Student from Austria, and was an involved member of community.

She married Edgar Van Buskirk in 1980 and moved to Martha's Vineyard. Active in the League of Women Voters, she served on several committees, receiving an award in 2001 for her many services. In 1995 she received an award for her National Grange Art Exhibits, which were displayed in June 2002 at the Night Owl Gallery in Rutland, Vt. A member of the Pomona Grange, Norma was a lifelong musician in classical piano, a talented artist, an enthusiastic golfer at Mink Meadows Golf Club, a volunteer at the Community Services Thrift Shop and Nathan Mayhew Seminars, attended art classes at the Tisbury and Oak Bluffs Senior Centers and was a member of the Unitarian Church.

Norma was a loving and devoted daughter, wife, mother and grandmother. In recent years, travel to India was greatly enjoyed and became very important to her. She was predeceased by her husband, Edgar, and her only brother, Richard. She is survived by her children, Dave, Ron, Anne and Phil, and her grandchildren Jennifer, Lucas, Tyler, Kathryn and Meghan.

Services will be announced at a later date.