Walter Lee Norwick was infamous for telling stories, especially about himself. Among his favorites were meeting a young Frank Sinatra and Tommy Dorsey’s Big Band at New York’s Astor Hotel, or swindling extra gas from an attendant during the 1970s fuel shortage.
Norwick, a founding member of Monterey’s first synagogue, Congregation Beth Israel in Carmel Valley’s, died Sunday, March 27, in Oceanside. He was 88.
Norwick was born April 28, 1916, in Philadelphia, to Eastern European immigrants. He loved to play musical instruments, though he had to give many up when he had a lung removed as a teenager. He never lost his love for jazz and big band music, however, and later sold his saxophone to pay for his first car radio.
From his family, he learned the clothing business, and as a young man, was often taking the train to New York to make deals.
Norwick’s brother Sydney introduced him to Natalie “Nan” Lerner, the sister of Sydney’s wife, Edythe. They married in 1948, and Norwick convinced his new bride to move to San Francisco for new opportunities.
Norwick worked in hotel management for a year, but in 1950, the couple moved to the Monterey Peninsula, where Norwick went back into the clothing business. They raised three daughters and lived in Pacific Grove, Seaside and Carmel, where they stayed for 30 years.
When they first arrived, there was no established Jewish presence.
“If you wanted to go to services, you had to go to Salinas or to Fort Ord, where they had a Jewish chaplain,” said Natalie Norwick, his wife.
When the Norwicks were expecting their first child, the Jewish women threw Natalie a baby shower.
“At that time, we decided to form a women’s club and then they formed a men’s club, and from that, we formed the congregation,” she said. “We met in people’s houses, we met in churches, we met in all kinds of places.” While the congregation was first known as the Monterey Peninsula Jewish Community, six years later it affiliated with the Reform movement, and became Congregation Beth Israel.
After working in several department stores, Norwick opened and ran his own men’s clothing store, Walter’s Fashions for Men, in Seaside, from 1972 to 1985. He not only specialized in big-and-tall clothing, but he drew famous clientele like Earth, Wind and Fire.
Norwick was also a huge Giants and 49ers fan. His granddaughter Olivia Herstein, of St. Paul, Minn., said sports were like a second religion for him.
In 1985, the Norwicks moved to Oceanside, where he volunteered with the Senior Core of Retired Executives, mentoring young entrepreneurs.
Norwick is survived by his wife, Natalie, of Oceanside; brother Sydney of Petaluma; daughter Constance Gottlieb of Danville; daughter Barbara Davidson of Chattanooga, Tenn.; daughter Naomi Norwick of Long Beach; four grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Donations can be made to the Walter Norwick Scholarship Fund, c/o Arrowbear Music Associates, P.O. Box 1294, Lakewood, CA 90714