WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Norman E. "Big Norm" Sweet Jr., 85 of Williamstown died peacefully on December 30, 2016, at home.



Born in Williamstown on September 24, 1931, he was the son of Norman Earl Sweet Sr. and Ellen Agnes (Conley) Sweet. He graduated from the former Williamstown High School with the class of 1949, where he was a standout athlete, playing football, basketball and baseball. He did all of this while also working full time on his father's family farm on Oblong Road in Williamstown. Big Norm was scouted by the Philadelphia Athletics professional baseball organization. Instead of going off to play minor league baseball he stayed and ran the farm. He later purchased his own farm on Henderson Road in Williamstown that he worked on most of his life.



In addition to farming, Big Norm held many jobs with different organizations. He was always a hard working valuable employee. Due to his love of horse racing he supplemented his income working at the former Green Mountain Race Track in Pownal, Vt. This is where he met the love of his life, the late Connie (Meloveck) Sweet, whom he married on Nov. 1, 1974. Together they shared 40 years of love and happiness. They loved watching baseball, basketball, football and horse racing together. Big Norm was also a devoted fan of the New York Yankees.



Big Norm coached many levels of youth baseball beginning in 1987 with the Williamstown Little League. He began to help out when he saw his son's team being beaten by 10 to 20 runs a game. After taking over the team, he coached the team to the championship game, upsetting the strongest team in the league along the way. In 1993 Big Norm went on to serve as an assistant baseball coach at Mt. Greylock High School for 23 seasons. He was a part of the team's 1st Western Mass championship. He also helped coach the Lanesborough American Legion baseball team for many years. During his time with the Lanesborough Legion, the team won five straight county league titles.



Above all the wins was how Big Norm connected with his players. He knew exactly when a player needed a pat on the back or words of motivation. He will also be remembered by his players for the countless number of fungos he hit to them over and over in practice to fine tune their skills, never just hitting the ball at them, always trying to challenge them and make them better players. His dedication earned him recognition as Massachusetts Baseball Association assistant coach of the year in 2011.



Even more impressive than his coaching accomplishments was his role as a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother and caregiver. In the late 1980s he provided compassionate in home care for his late Aunt Bessie Bratcher in her final months. He would also check in on his former high school music teacher, Gert Graham, at the Proprietors Field retirement home every Sunday for many years. Big Norm was always there when people needed him.



He is survived by his sons, Norman E. Sweet III and his wife Michele (Wood) Sweet, William Sweet, Michael Sweet and Jonathon Sweet; sisters Barbara (Robert) Glover, Shirley (Rod) Jendrick and Phyllis (Bryan) Locke; brothers Elmer, David and Stephen (Roberta); grandchildren Lydia Eisenbrandt, Kamryn Sweet and Addyson Sweet; and many nieces, nephews and close friends.  

    

He was preceded in death by his loving wife Connie (Meloveck) Sweet of 40 years; his sister Cynthia (Raymond) Sweet; his dear second mother Marion (Haley) Sweet; his cousin Joan Pratt and former wife Marcia Armstrong.



Funeral notice: Services will be Sunday, April 2, 2017, at 1 p.m. at the Sherman Burbank Memorial Chapel, 605 Main St. Williamstown MA 01267.



In lieu of flowers, please make checks payable to the  Norman E. Sweet Jr. Memorial Baseball Scholarship through the Flynn & Dagnoli-Montagna Home for Funerals, 521 West Main St. North Adams, MA 01247



The Sweet Family would like to thank Dr. Artsiom Tsyrkunou, Dr. Trevor Bayliss and Sue Wood for their care and compassion. Lastly, the family extends thanks to HospiceCare in The Berkshires for their outstanding efforts.