Norman Peter Mahoney, 76, of Coeur d'Alene, passed away Oct. 17, 2011. He was born to the late Clarence and Amadea Mahoney in Los Angeles, Calif., on Sept. 4, 1935.

He studied at Santa Clara University, Gonzaga University and the University of Southern California. He married Peggy Gove on Dec. 28, 1968. They relocated to Coeur d'Alene in 1980.

Norm was an instrumental contributor to the Coeur d'Alene community in which he lived. He served as a youth minister for Idaho Catholic Youth. He founded the North Idaho branch of Big Brothers and Sisters. He served on the board of directors for Anchor House during its beginnings and served Coeur d'Alene schools as both a school board member and as the substance abuse education coordinator for district No. 271. He served on the Coeur d'Alene ecumenical council and also the network for the prevention of child abuse.

He was actively involved in the human rights movement in Coeur d'Alene and was involved in the North Idaho chapter of PFLAG. Throughout his life he was committed to doing the right thing. Regardless of the position he held, he believed in making a difference, however small, in the world in which he lived.

Norm's good deeds will live on through the institutions and the individual lives that he touched, by the lessons and moments of companionship and love that we have shared with him and our ability to learn from his life.

Norm is survived by his wife, Peggy; his children and their spouses, Scott and Kim Mahoney, and Dani and Scott Clarkson; and his grandchildren, Alexa, Raya and Brennan Mahoney, and Prudence Clarkson.

A memorial service was held Saturday, Oct. 22, 2011, at the Human Rights Education Institute. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Human Rights Education Institute (www.hrei.org ).

"I have arrived, I am home. In the here, in the now. I am solid, I am free. In the ultimate, I dwell." - Thich Nhat Hahn