Growing up in Central New York, Norm Poltenson spent his summers at Camp Chateaugay in the Adirondacks. After graduating from Nottingham High School, he received a bachelor’s degree from St. Lawrence University where he participated in the Singing Saints, fraternity life, and other campus organizations. He then went on to continue his education at the University of […]
Growing up in Central New York, Norm Poltenson spent his summers at Camp Chateaugay in the Adirondacks. After graduating from Nottingham High School, he received a bachelor’s degree from St. Lawrence University where he participated in the Singing Saints, fraternity life, and other campus organizations.
He then went on to continue his education at the University of Wisconsin where, as a Woodrow Wilson Fellow, he completed his master’s degree in history — followed by active duty in the U.S. Army, stationed in Germany. Even during his army service he made time to study learning German during his two-year stay.
Norm’s summer-camp experiences took him to the Pacific Northwest and throughout the Adirondack Park among other camp travel expeditions. He developed a love of the outdoors and particularly the Adirondack area so when Adirondack Life Magazine became available to buy, it was the perfect entrée to the publishing he dreamed about. His love of books, the outdoors, and history all merged with the 1976 purchase of Adirondack Life.
Starting The Central New York Business Journal in 1986 enabled Norm to complete the dream. Initially, he had a difficult time convincing potential advertisers to talk to him about this new newspaper — after all, there was another one in town and why was this different? Not to be thwarted by the resistance he met, Norm just found new and unique ways to get their attention. Giant stuffed animals, gift baskets, signs, and many other creative methods opened many doors.
When Norm wasn’t working, he was out in the community volunteering, serving on and assuming the leadership of many boards: St. Lawrence University, Syracuse Jewish Federation, Menorah Park Campus Foundation, Menorah Park Campus Nursing Facility, Junior Achievement of CNY, Greater Syracuse Chamber of Commerce, Inter-Religious Council, The Syracuse Hebrew Day School, and Shaarei Torah Orthodox Congregation.
Even with all his professional and community activities, he found time to increase his knowledge of our faith and bring his family to a higher level of observance. A turning point in Norm’s life was a trip to Israel — taken in the early 1970s, with seven friends. This set a new trajectory that had an impact on everything he did from business to personal relationships.
Each weekday morning, Norm got up at 5 a.m. to study for an hour before morning services and then made an effort to attend services again in the afternoon/evening whenever possible. His beautiful tenor voice was a welcome addition to Shabbat (Sabbath) and holiday services. Each Thursday afternoon, he would set aside an hour to study the weekly Torah portion with his son, who is a rabbi in Israel, encouraging our oldest grandson to join them when possible.
In addition to the twice-yearly trips to visit family (and wineries) in Israel, he loved to travel especially to explore the natural beauty and wildlife of wherever we went. Whether on Safari, in the Central American jungle, the American West, or the Adirondack Mountains, he found great pleasure in being outdoors.
Norm was an involved father and grandfather, teaching his two sons, mentoring his daughter, and finding great joy in storytelling, “from his head,” to his many grandchildren.
He supported them in their decisions and he supported his wife in hers. He was well rounded, loving, and loved by family and friends.
Joan Poltenson is Norm’s wife — they were married for 57 years. She was co-owner of The Business Journal with him and worked in the business for 10 years.
