Obituary of Normand L. Chartier
Normand L. Chartier, 80, of Brooklyn, Connecticut, passed away peacefully on December 17, 2025, with family at his side. Normand was born September 23, 1945, and raised in Danielson, CT, the son of Dr. Gerard M. Chartier and L. Rubia (Lavigne) Chartier. He was the 7th of twelve children. Norm graduated from Killingly High School in the class of 1964 with the distinction of being the first football athlete from Killingly to be selected for All State. He went on to attend the University of Connecticut on a football scholarship. He was proud to be part of the 1965 UConn team that defeated Yale for the first time.
After a serious football injury in his third year, he changed direction, turning to his artistic talent, which led to a lifelong career as a children's book illustrator and watercolor artist. Normand illustrated 76 children's books and spent a number of years as a freelance artist for Sesame Street. He has received numerous awards and accolades during his career, but he was most proud in 2013 when he was invited to join the Mazza Museum in Findlay, Ohio, which has the world's largest collection of original artwork by children's book illustrators. Several of his watercolor paintings and illustrations are also in the permanent collection at New Britain Museum of American Art and the Slater Museum in Norwich.
A vacation to coastal Maine in the 70's inspired him to paint the beauty surrounding him. He continued those summer visits for over 40 years and created a beautiful collection of watercolor paintings, which are featured in his book, “My Maine.” Norm was a longtime fan of UConn Women’s basketball. He also enjoyed collecting antique toys, especially old metal Tonka Trucks and Lionel trains. He loved antique shops, and could never pass a yard sale without slowing down, and more often than not stopping to look around. He quite often found something he "just had to have."
Norm loved hopping in the car at sundown to find the best place to watch the sunset. He spoke fondly of family trips to visit various National Parks and Monuments around the country during his childhood, and later in life, in the summertime, just packing up the cooler at the end of the day to cook out at his family's place on the cove at Alexander Lake. He found joy being surrounded by the beauty of nature.
He was predeceased by his daughter, Sally Rubia, and his siblings Gerard, David, Pierre, Anne-Marie Allen, and Joseph. He is survived by his loving partner of 21 years Lynn Clark, daughter Dr. Molly Chartier (Michael), sons Samuel (Sarah) and Matthew, along with his four grandchildren Elyssa, Noel and Maxwell Grube and Lila Ferraro; plus his siblings Robert (Gretchen), Marc, Michele (Beth), Celeste, Louis (Suzanne), and A. Nicholas (Susan) as well as numerous nieces and nephews. The family is deeply grateful for the compassionate care provided by the dedicated nurses and aides at Pierce Memorial Baptist Home in Brooklyn, which made Normand’s final days and hours so peaceful.
Family and friends are invited to visit with Normand’s family from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm on Friday, January 16, at Gagnon and Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds Street, Danielson, CT, followed by a service at the funeral home and a reception at Hank’s Restaurant in Brooklyn.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Alzheimer’s Association (Alz.org/donate) or your favorite charity. Share a memory at Gagnonandcostellofh.com