Norm M. Winick

Norm Winick, Editor and Publisher of The Zephyr, died in the comfort of his home in Galesburg on Friday, December 10, 2010, following a short illness. Norm was born on June 5, 1952 in Plainfield, NJ, the son of Lester and Barbara Feldhuhn Winick. He graduated from Homewood-Flossmoor High School in 1970 and from Knox College in 1974. He married Christine Eik on June 15, 1980 in Galesburg, IL. Following graduation from college, he worked as the operations manager for LaSalle Electronics. In 1980, as a young entrepreneur, he opened SAV-A-BUK, a small independent discount store, which later specialized in window treatments. Norm was a highly respected figure in political circles and has been credited for helping to build a successful local organization for the Democratic Party in an area where the party had previously struggled to gain a foothold. In 1974, he ran for Knox County Treasurer and in 1979 he was a candidate for the Galesburg City Council from the Third Ward.  He was also a candidate for State Representative in 1984. Norm served as a Democratic Precinct Committeeman and was Vice Chairman of the Knox County Democratic Central Committee from 1978 to 1980 and 1998 to 2004 and Chairman from 1980 to 1996 and from 2004 until the time of his death. In 1989, Norm and Todd Moore pooled resources and talents to begin publishing The Zephyr, “the world's first public access newspaper.” Norm was publisher and editor of the weekly alternative newspaper, which was in its 22nd year of publication. According to the Illinois Press Association, The Zephyr won dozens of awards over the years, including second place in the Division A Sweepstakes in 2006.  Norm's award winning photo of the O.T. Johnson fire was shown on the cover of the Illinois Press Association's Best of the Press 2006. The newspaper also won an award in 1995 for the special edition commemorating the C-SPAN reenactment of the Lincoln-Douglas Debate at Knox College. In 2008, The Zephyr received the Illinois Press Association Verle V. Kremer Trophy for the Best Newspaper in Division A.  Norm was a board member and president of the Carl Sandburg Birthplace Association. He was a current member and past president of the Galesburg Exchange Club and was named Exchangite of the Year in 2003. He served on several commissions for the City of Galesburg, including the Cable Television Commission, the Human Relations Commission and the Transportation Advisory Commission. In 2007 he was the recipient of the City of Galesburg Human Relations Commission Award, “in recognition of significant and positive contributions he had made to further the cause of human relations and promoting racial and ethnic harmony within the community.” He was a former board member and past president of West Central Illinois Legal Assistance, as well as a former member of AMBUCS and the Optimist Club of Galesburg. In addition to being the consummate citizen, Norm was an avid bicyclist, tennis player and photographer. Norm is survived by his wife and their son, Ben Winick of Chicago, IL; his father, Lester Winick of Galesburg; his sister, Diane Graul (Lonnie) of Carmel, IN; his brother, Andy Winick (Sherry) of Deerfield, IL and nieces, nephews and cousins. Norm was preceded in death by his mother. A memorial service will be at noon on Saturday, December 18, 2010 at Temple Sholom, 665 West North Street in Galesburg. A celebration of life will follow from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Cherry Street Brewing, 57 South Cherry Street, Galesburg.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the Galesburg Public Library Foundation or the Carl Sandburg Birthplace Association.