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It is a mark of more than just longevity that virtually every Monctonian who has lived here for more than a few years has a Norm Crossman story to tell. And as the city mourns the death of Mr. Crossman Thursday at the age of 75, the sadness will be mixed with memories of the many years he served on Moncton City Council and, before that, as the Mayor of Lewisville before it was amalgamated.

Last year Mr. Crossman was honoured with a standing ovation at the annual meeting of the Canadian Federation of Municipalities for having faithfully served his community for 39 years, the longest serving municipal politician in the nation. And that does not include his time as Mayor of Lewisville or the four-year term on the present council that expires in May.

Mr. Crossman was an active and avid participant in virtually every major decision and political discussion in Moncton for more than 40 years. And he was re-offering for another term when death intervened, completion of the remaining elements of the Kay Arena being one of his goals.

Mr. Crossman won some, lost some; was criticized and praised. That's politics. But what kept him winning election after election was his grassroots approach. He got things done for his constituents and knew his community well. If they had a problem, he did as often as not resolve it.

With Mr. Crossman gone, Moncton civic politics enters a new era. He leaves a very large pair of political shoes to fill.