Obituaries : Norma Marie Lancaster, 70; Former Wife of Burt Lancaster
Norma Marie Lancaster, former wife of actor Burt Lancaster, died Friday from complications of a stroke she had suffered a week earlier. She was 70.
Born in Webster, Wis., she met Lancaster during World War II while working for the USO in Italy, before the actor had achieved prominence. He was in Italy entertaining troops with an acrobatic and comedy routine, according to their daughter, Joanna Lancaster, a freelance producer. They were married 23 years and had an amicable divorce in 1969. Neither remarried.
Mrs. Lancaster was a longtime member of the League of Women Voters. She also sponsored the Transport a Child program, which matched inner-city black youngsters with school vacancies in Bel-Air Elementary School during the 1960s, and was active in Democratic politics.
She is survived by five children and a grandaughter. No services are planned.
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