Norma Jean Vescovo

Norma Vescovo, 90, born on May 10, 1936, in Denver, CO, United States, passed away July 06, 2026, in Torrance, CA. She resided in Van Nuys, CA at the time of her passing. Arrangements are under the care of Forest Lawn, Hollywood Hills, CA.

Norma Jean was the fourth of five children born to Jack Martines (later creator of CIty Sidewalk Co which laid miles of sidewalk for city of Denver and privately and its trademark symbol can still be seen around the streets of Denver) and Ann Smith (raised Pekinese for showing in dog shows) in Denver, Colo. only 6 years after the Great Depression began. Often her father had to have multiple jobs, including being a door-to-door salesman for many different products, just to make ends meet.

Foreshadowing her future passionate career advocating for individuals advocating with disabilities, she herself unfortunately experienced multiple disabilities herself and because they were not visible to the naked eye often did not get the support she needed. She developed amblyopia, "lazy eye," which was not corrected in time and that resulted in her having near blindness in her right eye since early chlldhood. Then when she was about 10yo she developed an illness for which, because it was so common at that time and many of her neighbors had been diagnosed with it, she was incorrectly diagnosed with polio and received standard treatment for the time for it. This included the iron lung which was tortuous for someone like her with claustrophobia. What she actually had was St. Vitus Dance from having untreated strep throat causing rheumatic fever but it was not correctly diagnosed and proper treatment given for several years. She spent years away from school only to return in the 11th grade and though she did make many friends, because she was 1-2 yrs older than her classmates, often felt like kids came to her for advice and treated less as an equal.

After graduating North H.S. in 1955 she was given a scholarship to a local business college for women and though initially was excited about this ultimately turned it down once she found out they only offered classes in steno and secretarial work but not a degree in business. She also felt that she was being accepted as a "token" Latina even though she and her family did not speak Spanish. Though noble profession, she was not interested in being a secretary and was also interested in law. Instead, she accepted a job with the telephone company having to learn new punch card technology, and was making enough money to move into her own apt. About 2 yrs after graduating H.S. she had a boyfriend and they were involved in a car accident. This was before there were seatbelts in cars and she was in the front seat striking her Rt knee into the dashboard causing her to have several herniated disks in her low back later causing her to have right leg weakness and need for surgery.

In 1957 her brother Eugene was working in a band and one day decided to make a surprise visit, bringing with him a new member, having recently moved there from Memphis, Tenn, a guitarist named Albert Eugene Vescovo. What they did not know was that she had been having a flare of her back pain and was laying down on the sofa and had been in a robe and her hair was up in a shower cap and so when they walked in to greet her, they were all surprised! For Al, it was love at first site and once she agreed to a date and went out a few times, it was for Norma too. They married 2/1/1958 and despite many obstacles over their life together their love prevailed and they remained married 53 yrs until his death 10/22/2011.

Their first child, daughter Frankie Renee, was born late 1958 She underwent back surgery in 1959 when Frankie was only 6 months old. post-operatively she had to re-learn how to walk and succeeded. In 1961 their second child was born, John Murray, while still living in Denver, slightly prematurely and jaundiced from ABO incompatibility and was later diagnosed with cerebral palsy. They opened a laundry mat where they used a back room for Al to give guitar lessons. Due to local construction detouring patrons, they had to close their business and decided to move to Los Angeles, so that Al could work in LA recording studios. Once in LA obtained an apt in Burbank and found that AL had to wait 1 yr before he could join the LA local musician's union. He obtained a job in Hawaii where they lived for 1 yr, living very poorly, without a car, having to walk long distances with 2 young children and the youngest could not walk so she had to carry him. They moved back to LA once Al's contract ended and while he was doing studio work mom supported him by doing people's laundry. While living in Arleta their third child was born, Gina, in 1967 and was born more prematurely and like John, jaundiced from ABO incompatibility and was later diagnosed with cerebral palsy. 

Norma found herself having to be very vocal and persistent to obtain medical and school-related services for her children. She then began sharing her knowledge with other parents whose children also needed services and was asked by many to be their advocate. She joined organizations such as C.A.P.H. (California Assoc of Physically Handicapped) and organize demonstrations for rights for those with disabilities.   With her skills and reputation, in 1976 she was selected to work with the Western Center for Law and the Handicapped to start California's 3rd independent living center (ILC). She became it's executive director and only employee and very low budget.  She obtained the lease, furniture for it's 1st office in Van Nuys and gave up her salary to pay for these and a secretary and gradually expanded the office with her grant writing. Her daughter Frankie organized it's 1st newsletter and Al and John folded and stamped them and Gina ad to lick the stamps!  Originally the Center was called ILC but then later was changed to Darryl McDaniel ILC for many years but due to fact another ILC had same acronym it was changed to it's present ILC of Southern California. She finally retired at the age of 86 yo having developed a very unique training program for persons with head trauma. ILCSC is now celebrating it's 50th anniversary.  Also with assistance from lawyers and legislature advocated for the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and is responsible for the blue curb with the 1st one just outside their 1st office on Archwood St in Van Nuys, CA. 

She is survived by her sister Darlene Waldron, daughters Frankie (Bob) Sims and Gina (Jim) Piscitello, daughter-in-law Sharon Vescovo, grandchildren Parker Sims, Jake Vescovo and Ross and Mike Piscitello and was preceded in death by her husband Albert, son John, sister Shirley, brothers Jack and Gene