Norman E. Kocher, a long-time member of the Lycoming Law Association died on August 8, 1995.

He was remembered in a memorial service that took place in the Court of Common Pleas of Lycoming Coiunty on the 25th day of September, 1995

Read the memorial resolutions:

In The Court Of Common Pleas Of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania NO: 95-01465

IN RE: Appointment of a Committee to draft Resolution in the death of NORMAN E. KOCHER, ESQUIRE

RESOLUTIONS OF THE COMMITTEE

TO THE HONORABLE JUDGES OF THE COURT:

The Committee appointed by your Honorable Court to prepare Resolutions concerning the death of Norman E. Kocher, Esquire, reports as follows:

Norman E. Kocher was born in Noxen, Pennsylvania on January 8, 1911. He died Tuesday, August 8, 1995. Mr. Kocher was the son of Floyd M. Kocher, Esquire and Carrie A. Schoonover Kocher. Four children were issue of this marriage: Norman; Jean; Herbert J; and Ernest F. Herbert and Ernest survive, Herbert is a photographer in Old Lycoming Township. Ernest is an insurance agent in Mifflinburg.

Norman E. Kocher graduated from the Williamsport Public Schools; from Penn State University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1933; and from the University of Pittsburgh Law School with a Bachelor of Laws Degree in 1937. He was admitted to practice before the Bar of this Court on October 3, 1938. Admitted with him on the same day were the Honorable Malcolm Muir, Judge, United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania and Henry Clay McCormick, Esquire.

Norman E. Kocher took up the practice of law with his father, Floyd, in 1938 with offices in the Goldenburg Building on Pine Street, Williamsport. This practice continued until Floyd's death on September 11, 1961. It was interrupted only by Norman's military service during World War II.

Mr. Kocher was a combat soldier with the 77th Infantry Division of the United States Army. He fought the Japanese "in the thick of it" during the bloody Guam, Philippines and Okinawa campaigns which drove the Japanese back to their home islands.

After the war, Mr. Kocher returned to practice with his father and, after his death, continued the practice of law with Markin Knight, Esquire in the city's Newberry Section. He previously served as an Assistant District Attorney under Mr. Knight and as a District Magistrate. He was a member of the Lycoming Law Association and the Pennsylvania Bar Association. Mr. Kocher was a staunch supporter of the Republican Party, voted in every election, and was usually first at the polls on election day.

Mr. Kocher married Evelyn R. Sortman on December 21, 1952. She survives him as does his stepdaughter, Carol Ann Foucart, of Williamsport and his stepgrandsons, Stephen Foucart of San Antonio, Texas and Jeffrey Foucart of Austin, Texas.

Mr. Kocher was a devoted member of the Calvary United Methodist Church where his father before him had been a member for forty-four years. He was also a member of Lodge 106 F & AM, the Williamsport Consistory, Zafar Grotto, the Republican Club and the Republican League.

Mr.Kocher was an avid hunter and fisherman. He maintained a boat on Seneca Lake and fished there regularly for many years. Norm was a fine cook. He smoked his own lake trout and shad, baked pies, made stews with his fresh garden vegetables which were succulently flavored with his home grown spices. He made sauerkraut and his specialty, crabapple jelly. He canned what he raised including twelve different varieties of Zucchini squash.

Gardening was the "love of his life." He grew fruits and vegetables of many types. Norm's death came from a heart attack while he was watering his zinnias. Other interests included woodcarving which he took up after retirement. He carved ducks, bear, fish, and soldiers and painted them himself. These are of high quality.

Mr. Kocher was a close personal friend of Judge Charles Scott Williams of this Court who died June 25, 1966, Mr. Kocher was a student of History, particularly American History, U.S. Military History and of the American Constitution. He firmly believed that original intent was the proper standard for interpretation of this document.

With Norman E. Kocher's death, his family has lost a devoted and loving husband, father, and grandfather, his clients have lost an able and ardent advocate, the Courts have lost a worthy and trusted officer and the Community has lost an outstanding citizen.

Your Committee recommends adoption of the following Resolutions:

BE IT RESOLVED, that in the passing of Norman E. Kocher there has been a loss to the Bar of Lycoming County of an outstanding member who represented and stood for the highest principles of the legal profession, a loss to the community of a contributing, valued and unselfish leader, a loss to his family of a loving husband, father, and grandfather, and a loss to his friends and acquaintances of a loyal, true and gentlemanly companion.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a copy of these Resolutions be spread upon the records of this Court, and that copies of the same be sent to his widow, and his stepdaughter.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this Court and its Bar do hereby extend to his widow, his stepdaughter and his grandchildren a deep and heartfelt expression of sympathy.

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,

Charles J. McKelvey, Esquire
Robert C. Wise, Esquire
Markin R. Knight, Esquire

ORDER OF COURT

AND NOW, this 25th day of September, 1995, in consideration of the Resolution of the Lycoming County Bar Association and the unanimous consent of the members of the Bar, the said Resolution has been presented and adopted, it is hereby ORDERED AND DECREED that the Resolution herewith submitted and attached hereto be adopted as an official expression of the Lycoming County Bar Association and this Court, and that the same be spread upon the record of the Court; and that copies thereof be delivered to the wife and daughter of Norman E. Kocher, and it is further ORDERED AND DECREED that said Resolution be entered at large upon the record of the Court and that it be printed in the Lycoming Reporter.

By The Court,

THOMAS C. RAUP, P.J.
CLINTON W. SMITH, J.
KENNETH D. BROWN, J
WILLIAM S. KIESER, J.
CHARLES F. GREEVY, S.J.