Norman Cassidy

With his daughters Michelle and Rebecca by his side, Norman “Norm” Cassidy, 89, formerly of Sycamore, passed away on May 22, 2026.
He was born in Lordstown, on July 13, 1936, to Laura and James Cassidy. Norm and his wife lived in Sycamore from 1963 until moving to Sterling Heights, Mich., in June 2024 to be closer to their daughters and grandchildren.
He was a music teacher starting in the Tiffin district for a few years before moving to the Mohawk School District in Sycamore, completing 25 years as a choral and assistant band director and retiring in 1991. He then worked for Guardian Glass in Upper Sandusky for 20 years and retired in 2011. He then returned to his real passion, teaching as a substitute until 2020. He dedicated his life to Mohawk Schools. He sang the National Anthem for so many school and community events over the years that he became known throughout the area for his rendition of that time honored song. Beyond teaching, he kept the clock for Mohawk athletic games for nearly 30 years and directed an insane number of musicals. He was inducted into the Mohawk Hall of Fame in 1999.
His Sycamore United Church of Christ family was very important to him. He directed the adult choir for 40 years as well as the bell choir. He manned the gates of the Wyandot County Fair and assisted with the Logos program. He was the director of the Millstream Singers out of Findlay and a member of the Lions Club. He was proud to call Sycamore home.
Norm was a strong and mostly quiet spoken force. He valued hard work that began in his childhood growing up on a dairy farm. He loved farming and carried that love on with his children as they grew up raising cows, pigs and chickens; bailing hay, straw and teaching them all about planting corn and soybeans in the early years. Teacher by school year, farmer by summer. He was a patient man and would follow his dear wife Nita anywhere. It was a standing joke that he was just along for the ride.
He was the papa of all papas. He loved being with his grandchildren in Ohio, Michigan or South Carolina. The number of miles he drove proved his commitment to his family. He happily drove those miles to watch them in their activities. He was a present papa, happily participating in adventures that were spearheaded by his adventurous wife. He treasured making breakfast for his grandkids and made a great pancake. He was affectionately referred to as “Papa Bob Evans.”
He is survived by daughters, Michelle (Patrick) Kotwicki, Sterling Heights, Mich., Rebecca Winter, Livonia, Mich.; daughter-in-law, Jennie Cassidy, Myrtle Beach, S.C. (son Garrett Michael Cassidy preceded him in death in 2013); grandchildren, Hanna Mitchell (Collin), Ethan (Brianna) Mitchell, Jordan Winter (Kolby) and Seth Winter (Madison), all of Michigan; Bryen Cassidy and Brittney Cassidy of South Carolina; Noel (Josh) Godwin and great-grandchildren, Jackson and Cassidy Godwin, all of Pennslvania; many nieces, nephews, grand and great-grands.
A celebration of life is planned on Saturday, Aug. 1, at 1 p.m. at Sycamore United Church of Christ in Sycamore. To honor Norm’s passion for music, consider a donation in his name to the Mohawk Music Boosters at 605 Ohio 231, Sycamore, OH 44882.