Donald Norton Sr., 95, musician and longtime professor

"There was always music going on" in the Glassboro home of Donald B. Norton Sr., according to his son Robert.

"Having students for lessons," hosting chamber groups on Sundays, or just playing the violin or clarinet, he made his homes hum.

Up to his 95th birthday three months ago, after Dr. Norton had moved to an Atlanta suburb, "he would practice for two or three hours a day. It was his passion," Robert Norton said.

On Friday, Oct. 25, Dr. Norton, 95, who retired in 1983 as professor of music at what is now Rowan University, died at Peachtree Christian Hospice in Duluth, Ga., the town where he had lived for the last 18 years.

Born in Ludington, Mich., he graduated from Ludington High School in 1936 and earned a bachelor's in history and music at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Mich., in 1940, helping to pay his college tuition with his music.

"He started his own band as a college student," playing clarinet with friends for gigs such as wedding receptions, his son said.

Before going off to war, he was a substitute violinist with the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra and a full-time member of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.

Music kept him from harm's way in World War II, when he played in an Army band in Europe. "He always talked about how fortunate he was" to have been protected by his music, his son said.

After the war, his son said, "he taught at Baltimore City College for six or eight years," earning a master's in music at the University of Maryland in 1952, again paying some of his tuition with his music, this time with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra.

He earned a doctorate in education in 1954 and a professional diploma in music education in 1955, both from Teachers College at Columbia University.

He joined the faculty at what is now Rowan University in 1961.

"He had a group of friends in Philadelphia and South Jersey," his son said, "and they would get together in the city, spend Sunday afternoons playing music," when not at the Norton home.

In retirement in the 1980s, he moved to Baltimore and worked as a consultant with the International Music Co. there "to identify fiddles, as he would call them."

"He would go to Germany, Italy, Austria, to evaluate violins for purchase" by his firm for resale to performers, his son said.

After moving to a son's home in Duluth in the 1990s, he played with the Atlanta Pops Orchestra and continued to give lessons.

Besides Robert, he is survived by sons Donald Jr. and James and five grandchildren. His former wife, Barbara Norton, died in 1999.

Services were private.

Donations may be made to Peachtree Christian Hospice, 3430 Duluth Park Lane, Duluth, Ga., 30096 or www.peachtreechristianhospice.com.