THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, December 3, 1995 TAG: 9512030001
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Close-Up
SOURCE: Rebecca A. Myers
LENGTH: Long : 127 lines
Just four years ago, J. Norman Willett was the first male to serve on the patient information desk as a volunteer with the Auxiliary to Portsmouth General Hospital.
A short while later, he became the first man to distribute hospital mail.
Two years ago, he became the auxiliary's first male board member.
And on Wednesday, he will be installed as the first male president in the 65-year history of the auxiliary, the oldest in Virginia.
During his two-year term, Willett won't be without male companionship. He will be joined by William ``Bill'' Westbrook and Claxton ``Pete'' Doughtie, who were elected first- and second-vice presidents, respectively.
Jane Waters, outgoing auxiliary president, said she kidded with Willett to recruit more men to infiltrate the board - which has historically been all female.
``It was just a joke, but he took me seriously,'' she said.
Since retiring from the government 12 years ago, Willett, 74, has occupied himself with volunteer work.
Up until two years ago, he helped out at Beverly Manor nursing home, where three of his relatives had resided.
``I called Bingo, helped out with refreshments and helped them roll patients around,'' he said.
Willett now volunteers at Portsmouth General Hospital two days a week and is on the hospice board, which meets monthly. He is also active in Park View Baptist Church, where he is a trustee.
``I just enjoy helping people,'' he explained.
Willett spent years acting in Little Theater productions and thinks this experience will help him in his duties as auxiliary president.
``I'm not shy about getting up and talking before people,'' he said.
A 1938 graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School, Willett grew up in Park View.
``It was a typical small town then,'' he said. ``The population probably was only about 57,000 or something like that, and we had no problems like we do nowadays with the drugs and things like that.
``We walked to school. Nobody had any problems. There were stores downtown, and you could stop at the bakery and get some doughnuts on the way home.''
Willett attended Wilson High School at its original location on High Street. When the building was razed to make room for the new I.C. Norcom High School, he was there, as were other alumni, to recover souvenir bricks from the structure.
But the second Wilson High School site on Willett Drive had special meaning to him as well.
Willett Drive and Willett Hall are named after his father, a Portsmouth businessman in the meat and grocery business who served on the School Board.
``My grandfather started Norman Packing Co., and then when he died, my father went into the business and ran it until he died in 1953,'' he said.
Willett's brother took over until his death from melanoma in 1957. Willett then ran the family business himself until 1962.
``There was so much competition and everything, we just decided if we couldn't pay the stockholders any money, we'd just go out of business,'' he said. ``So that's what we did.''
Before going to work for the government, Willett worked briefly at a clothing store, sold automobiles and worked as a purchasing agent for a marine supplier. He also served in the Army from 1942 to 1946 and was called back in 1950 for the Korean conflict.
His government work took him to Philadelphia for a few years, then to Washington, D.C., where he worked with NASA headquarters as a budget analyst until he retired in 1983.
``I'm really glad I came back to Portsmouth when I retired,'' said Willett, who lives in Swimming Point.
``All of my friends that I grew up with are here. They've changed the streets and changed the buildings and all that stuff, but friends and family don't change,'' he said.
``I think that's one of the finest things you can have: good friends and family.''
Name: John Norman Willett
Nickname: None
Neighborhood: Swimming Point
Number of years in Portsmouth: All my life, except five years in the Army and 15 years working for the government in Philadelphia and Washington
Birthplace: Portsmouth, in what our family called ``The Big House,'' at 425 Hatton St. in 1921
Birthdate: Nov. 14, 1921
Occupation: Last was civil service as a budget analyst for NASA headquarters in Washington until I retired in 1983
What job other than your own would you like? Airline pilot or host
Marital status: Single
Children: None
Fondest childhood memory: The summers we all stayed together at the beach
First concert: I don't remember
What song or book title best describes your life? The song, ``I Believe'' and ``You'll Never Walk Alone''
If you won the lottery, what's the very first thing you'd buy? I'd pay my bills and share it with all my family.
If you could trade places for just one day with anyone in the world, who would it be and why? I am very satisfied with my place in the world, so I do not desire to trade places with anyone.
Biggest accomplishment: Learning from my parents how to help others without receiving credit for doing so. I enjoy doing for others, like my volunteer work at Portsmouth General Hospital. I try to practice the phrase, ``Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.''
Most embarrassing moment: I was with a new friend and met an old friend and in trying to introduce them, I could remember the new friend's name but could not remember the old friend's name.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? I would try to be more tactful and tolerant in dealing with others.
Perfect way to spend the day: Sitting around with friends and family and remembering the ``good ol' days.''
I can't resist: Chocolate
Favorite Portsmouth restaurant: There are so many excellent restaurants in Portsmouth that it would be impossible to pick one favorite.
Favorite Portsmouth hangout: My home
Biggest problem facing Portsmouth: Irresponsible spending and the lack of clothing department stores and markets in the downtown area
If you had three wishes for Portsmouth, what would they be?
Bring business back to the city, especially downtown
Bring harmony and cooperation to all who live here
Disprove the negative feeling our neighboring cities have concerning Portsmouth
Other than its small-town atmosphere, what do you like about living in Portsmouth? The fine museums, the friendliness of its residents, fine medical services and good entertainment at Willett Hall ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MARK MITCHELL
by CNB