“You’ve got a great heart, Norman,” the doctor said, referring to Norman’s health and applauding the fact that at 67 years old, Norman has been able to navigate the COVID-19 crisis this past winter without getting sick.
Norman’s customers might say the same: You’ve got a great heart, Norman.
“I have a love for people,” Norman said. “I love my customers.”
Norman Chamberlain’s post is outside Stumptown Coffee on Southeast 34th Avenue and Belmont Street, a spot he calls productive. He said he has a customer base of about 70 people. These regular customers, his “community,” joined together when — during the COVID-19 shut-down — Street Roots temporarily stopped producing a printed edition of the newspaper. These customers helped to support Norman, both financially and with daily lunches.
“I want my customers to know that I care so much about them,” Norman said. “And I want to provide for them great service, first time and every time.”
Norman is proud of the newspaper he’s sold for four years. “This is good journalism,” he said.
“I found Street Roots totally by accident,” Norman said. “I was walking down the street in downtown Portland, and I saw this guy selling a paper. ‘Tell me about this paper,’ I said.”
Like many Street Roots vendors, the man Norman met was happy to share information and encouraged Norman to apply. “We’re always looking for good vendors,” the man told Norman.
Norman has been in what he calls the “people business” all his life. His first and lifelong profession was as a chef. “My mother was French, and she got me into food,” he explained. “My grandfather was a French chef, and he got me into cooking. I went to cooking school in Great Falls, Montana, to become a master chef.”
Norman came to Portland in 1989.
“I fell in love with this city,” he said, “and I had gotten tired of the harsh Montana winters.” He got a job at the Gallery restaurant, where he helped to prepare buffets and specialized in his “60-second egg: A light and fluffy French omelet.” Norman worked at this restaurant for 15 years.
In between cooking school and his cooking career, in his later 20s, Norman served 8 years in the Air Force. One of the most memorable moments of his life occurred when he was stationed at Okinawa: “It was 2 o’clock in the morning and a woman was in labor and needed a ride to the hospital. When I got there, she was crowning. I washed my hands, grabbed a towel and talked to someone in the emergency room the whole time. I helped that woman deliver her beautiful baby — 12 pounds! I’ll never forget that moment. The good lord was looking over my shoulder!”
Today, Norman works with a case manager who has helped him with health and housing.
“I’m doing fine. My case manager has helped me a lot. I have a mental illness, which is controlled with medicine that I take twice a day. I’ll continue taking this medicine for the rest of my life.”
Norman’s case manager secured an apartment for him at Ritzdorf Court, where he’s been living for the past five years. “I like the location,” he said. “I can catch two bus lines. There’s a direct line to work.”
Norman will turn 68 on May 10. How would he like to celebrate?
“With a bite to eat,” he said, then added, laughing, “and fly to Fiji.”
Norman can be found at his post most weekdays and on weekends until 1 p.m. Drop by and wish him a happy 68th birthday!
