Norman “Norm” Edward Baietti, 84, of Walnut Creek, CA passed away on June 24, 2025 after being diagnosed with cancer a year earlier.

Born on December 1, 1940 to Eleanor and Thomas Baietti, he was raised in Flushing, New York. Although he lived in California for the last 45 years, he remained a true New Yorker at heart.

After graduating from Valparaiso University in 1962, Norm tried law school (and wisely decided it wasn’t for him). Not sure what to do next, he spent several months working on a farm in Germany tending livestock, digging potatoes, and practicing the German he’d studied in college. For the rest of his life, Norm serenaded friends and family with a rousing rendition of the German version of “Happy Birthday” on their birthdays.

Norm was drafted into the Army in 1966, and spent two years at Fort Dix, where he was an MP (military police).

In 1969, Norm joined IBM as a salesman. During his decade there, he made many friends, and also developed his lifelong taste for martinis. While working for IBM, Norm attended night school at St. John’s University, where he received his MBA.

In 1979, Norm met his wife Mary Jo (“Jo”) Baietti at a party in Southern California. That night, he told a friend he would marry Jo. Sure enough, after a yearlong bi-coastal courtship, he did, in the process becoming stepfather to 13-year-old Christine. Norm moved across the country to live with Jo and Christine in Irvine, CA, which was a bit of a culture shock coming from Hoboken, NJ. He soon adapted, taking up tennis, and embarrassing Christine with his horn-honking and surly New Yorker ways.

Norm established his own computer business in California. He and Jo eventually moved to Walnut Creek, where they lived for many years. In addition to the great pleasure he took in his family and many friends, Norm relished travel (he visited all 50 states, and countless countries), playing piano, and reading medieval history tomes. He was renowned for his off-color jokes and his wide-ranging knowledge of varied topics (he excelled at Trivial Pursuits). At 74, he became a devoted grandfather to Ella, with whom he shared a mischievous sense of humor, as well as a love of cooking and music.

Norm leaves behind his beloved wife Jo, daughter Christine Whalen (Hendrik van Maldegem), and granddaughter Ella Whalen. He is survived by his sister-in-law JoAnn Baietti, nephews Michael Baietti and Anthony Baietti (Sarah), niece Maria Baietti (Johnny McCool), greatnephew Brent Callum (Tasia) and greatnieces Skye Cotton (Jourdan DeMuynck), Sofia Baietti, and Julia Baietti, great-greatnephews, Troy Callum and Coast Demuynck, and great-greatniece, Nyla Cotton. He was predeceased by his brother Lawrence Baietti.

Rest in peace, Norm. You were one of a kind.

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