Norm Augustinus

Augustinus was born in Detroit, Michigan. He is the son of Levontina Melnyk and Norman Augustinus Sr. His grandfather Bart Theodoor Augustinus was born in Amsterdam, but left the Netherlands in 1922 entering the US by way of the Vermont, St. Albans Canadian Crossing.{{Cite web |last=Augustinus |first=Bart |date=1922-09-22 |title=Manifests Of Passengers arriving In The St. Albans, Vermont District Through Canadian Ports (Page 445, Line 29) |url=https://familysearch.org/ |access-date=2024-11-07 |website=Family Search |language=en-US}} Augustinus never met his biological father, but at the age of ten his mother remarried.

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A writer of humor, Augustinus studied Journalism and Communications at Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Michigan where he was an editor of the university newspaper the (Ferris Torch) and writer/producer of the radio show, The Adventures of E-Man.Meissner, B: "The Adventures of E-Man", page 61. The Ferriscope FSU Yearbook, 1985. While a freshman at Ferris State University Augustinus published LEONARD. During his senior year at Ferris State University Augustinus placed in an invention contest and won a cash award for a mailbox transmitter device. A certificate and cash prize was presented to Augustinus during the dedication and open house of the Manufacturing Resource and Productivity Center.Nicks, J: "Associate Director", April 13, 1987. The Ferris State University Manufacturing Resources and Productivity Center.

An inventor, his gadgets have been featured in publications and television shows.Fabian, D: "Just Missing Millions", PM Magazine, Nationally Syndicated Television Show. Channel 5 Saginaw, Michigan, 1986.

Augustinus' 'iPhone Colon Exam' invention/video was cited on the patent by Patrick O'Neil, the inventor of the iPhone olloclip which has sold over 1.5 million units worldwide.{{Cite patent|number=USD763340S1|title=Optical component|gdate=2016-08-09|invent1=O'Neill|invent2=Pak|invent3=Cantor|invent4=Nguyen|inventor1-first=Patrick D.|inventor2-first=Chong|inventor3-first=Joshua|inventor4-first=Ryan|url=https://patents.google.com/patent/USD763340}}{{Cite web |last=O'neill |first=Patrict |date=2016-04-16 |title=The Man Who Bet His House On His Mobile Phone Invention|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-35974538/ |access-date=2024-11-07 |website=BBC|language=en-US}}

He has been a copywriter, run for political office,Chachere, V: "Politics Becomes Latest Chapter For Novelist-Inventor", page 2. Associated Press(AP), 2002. and appeared in over three dozen television commercials. In 1991, Augustinus developed the story-line and dialogue for place mats used in over 300 McDonald's restaurants throughout Michigan, The Adventures of Tizzie Bean.Pernik-Mertz, D: "Local artist's work graces tables across the state", page 2B. Rochester Clarion, 1991. Additionally, Augustinus landed a bit part (under five lines) in the movie Hoffa starring Jack Nicholson (Shot in Cobo Hall Arena, Detroit).Marci-Haney Talent Agency, Detroit, Michigan, 1991. Augustinus is listed in the 2003 & 2004 Edition of Marquis Who's Who in America and was nominated for the Ferris State University Distinguished Alumni Award two consecutive years in a row.Mishler, J: "Ferris State University", Director Alumni Relations, Nominated 2002 and 2003. In 1999, he was accepted into the Powerhouse Theatre Program at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York. He has written for newspapers and online publications such as McSweeney's Internet Tendency.{{Cite web |title=Norm Augustinus |url=https://www.mcsweeneys.net/authors/norm-augustinus |access-date=2025-02-07 |website=McSweeney's Internet Tendency |language=en}}

In March 2013, Roll Call published a story about an animated cartoon Augustinus created and posted on his website with regards to the Obama administration.{{Cite web |last=Rojas |first=Warren |date=2013-03-20 |title=Satirist Spooked By Would-Be Watchdog |url=https://rollcall.com/2013/03/20/satirist-spooked-by-would-be-watchdog/ |access-date=2024-11-07 |website=Roll Call |language=en-US}} The cartoon depicted several high-ranking members of the Obama administration being laser beamed into nonexistence by a drone. The cartoon, and subsequent claims by the artist that he was emailed by the United States Secret Service, prompted a visit from them.{{Cite web |last=Weigel |first=David |date=2013-03-27 |title=The Cartoonist And The Mystery agent|url=https://www.slate.com/news-and-politics/2013/03/editorial-cartoon-depicts-president-obama-first-lady-targeted-by-a-drone.html/ |access-date=2024-11-07 |website=Slate|language=en-US}}

In 2014 and 2015, Augustinus protested near Columbus Circle Manhattan{{Cite web |last=Oh |first=Inae |date=2014-03-26 |title=Man Demonstrates The Worst Way To Support New York's Horse Carriage Industry |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/nyc-horse-carriage_n_5037062/ |access-date=2024-11-07 |website=Huffington Post |language=en-US}} holding large, worded banners in support of the New York City horse carriage industry, which Bill de Blasio vowed to end immediately upon being elected NYC mayor.{{Cite web |last=Merlan |first=Anna |date=2014-03-25 |title=A Chat With Norm Augustinus, the Guy Holding the "Die de Blasio Die" Banner at Columbus Circle [Updated] |url=https://www.villagevoice.com/a-chat-with-norm-augustinus-the-guy-holding-the-die-de-blasio-die-banner-at-columbus-circle-updated/ |access-date=2024-11-07 |website=The Village Voice |language=en-US}} Augustinus was one of the people thanked by the Teamsters for his support in a full page notice/ad published in the New York Daily News on January 1, 2016.{{Cite web |last=Hansen |first=Christina |date=2016-01-01 |title=Thank You |url=http://carriageon.com/thank-you/ |access-date=2024-11-07 |website=CarriageOn |language=en-US}}File:Norm Augustinus Literary Walk Central Park June 2014.jpg

Augustinus writes daily and performs his stand-up comedy routine regularly. He has written two novels, Cats and Dogs{{Cite book |last=Augustinus |first=Norman |title=Cats and Dogs |date=March 10, 2017 |publisher=Pine Spot Publishing |year=2017 |isbn=978-0615596907 |edition=1st}} was published on March 10, 2017 and Bedbadger{{Cite book |last=Augustinus |first=Norm |title=Bedbadger |date=January 21, 2013 |publisher=Pine Spot Publishing |year=2013 |isbn=978-0615759753 |edition=1st}} was released January 21, 2013.

On August 26, 2015, while driving through Michigan, Augustinus saw a Jeep Cherokee lose control and roll over several times off I-75. Augustinus ran to the car and pulled two children from the smoking, overturned vehicle.{{Cite web |last=Devereaux |first=Brad |date=2015-08-27 |title=Man pulls kids out of SUV that flips '10 times' on I-75 in Bay County |url=https://www.mlive.com/news/bay-city/2015/08/man_pulls_kids_out_of_car_afte.html |access-date=2024-11-07 |website=mlive |language=en}} Augustinus was nominated for the Carnegie Hero Medal for his heroic act.{{Cite web |last=Schwartz |first=Danny |date=2016-08-17 |title=Crossing The Line: Fence encroaches on Jewish graves in Chesterfield |url=https://www.thejewishnews.com/archives/crossing-the-line-fence-encroaches-on-jewish-graves-in-chesterfield/article_9cd3f1bb-9d95-5ce7-9359-2ed5ee7bb912.html |access-date=2025-02-28 |website=thejewishnews.com |language=en}}

{{reflist}}

• [https://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/the-great-pumpkin McSweeney's The Great Pumpkin]
• [https://archive.org/details/NormAugustinusFeaturedInDetroitFreePressMagaizine Detroit Free Press Sunday Magazine Article]
• [https://archive.org/details/FreePressWriterNealRubinWritesAboutNormAugustinus Detroit Free Press Cult Icon]
• [https://archive.org/details/NormAugustinusPlacesAtScienceFairDetroitFreePressArticle Detroit Free Press Article Norm Augustinus Science Fair]
• [https://archive.org/details/NormAugustinusFeaturedInNewspaperArticles Detroit Free Press Article 'Line is Fine Between Oddball and True Genius' by Rick Ratliff]

• [http://m.nydailynews.com/news/national/nyc-man-pulls-kids-flipped-suv-michigan-interstate-article-1.2340517 New York Daily News 'NYC Man Pulls Kids From Flipped SUV On Michigan Interstate']

• [https://archive.org/details/drone_202110 'Augustinus 2013 Drone Cartoon' Norm Augustinus Drone Cartoon]

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Augustinus, Norman Theodore}}

Category:Living people

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)

Category:21st-century American male writers

Category:American people of Dutch descent

Category:American satirists

Category:American short story writers

Category:Comedians from Detroit

Category:Ferris State University alumni

Category:People from Warren, Michigan

Category:Vassar College alumni

Category:Writers from Detroit

Category:Articles containing video clips