To his family, he was a loving husband, father and grandfather.
But to an entire generation of Barrie teens looking forward to hitting the road as a newly licensed driver, the name Norman Tucker will forever be synonymous with a hard-nosed driving examiner.
By all, he will be dearly missed, after passing away peacefully surrounded by family, including his wife of more than 60 years, Sue, on May 27. He was 85.
“Norm will be fondly remembered as a practical joker, hedge-trimmer extraordinaire, avid outdoorsman, hockey player and fan, and stock-car enthusiast. Many will remember Norm as the infamous driver examiner in Barrie, Ontario, known as 'Tucker' to generations of nervous teens,” reads his online obituary.
Legislation around graduated licensing had just been passed when Kelly Gallaugher was about to go for her first driving test, which would make her and her friends the last group to get what was known as a 365 (a yearlong learner's permit) and the last to go straight to a full G license — meaning the pressure was on.
A student at Innisdale Secondary School at the time, Gallaugher remembers not only having to contend with the now long wait times to get a test, but also with the possibility of getting the “dreaded Tucker” for testing.
Not only was he known as a notoriously hard tester, the rumours were even worse for “kids” trying for their license, she recalled.
“Everyone knew that Tucker failed everyone on their first try. It was pretty much a given,” she told BarrieToday. “As soon as I could, I booked my test. Sure enough, I got Tucker for my test."
Even her father, who had brought her for her test, knew the rumours of Tucker and was nervous for her.
The afternoon of her road test, she recalls, was beautiful and sunny.
“We got in the truck and I was so nervous. Waiting to be called, my stomach was in knots," Gallaugher said. "Finally, it’s my turn. Into the car comes the man, the myth, the legend. Tucker!”
Throughout the test, she recalls his instructions as being “grumbly” but direct. With only two blocks left before returning back to the MTO building, she was feeling pretty decent about her chances of passing … until she stopped at the red light. After a pedestrian gave her the go-ahead, she made her turn and straightened her tires, at which point the pedestrian stepped off the curb behind her.
She remembers Tucker asking her if she saw the pedestrian, to which she said yes and that the person had waved her through.
That’s when Tucker told her that she’d failed her exam.
For her second attempt, which was scheduled for the last day of the year, Gallaugher said she knew she had to pass or she’d get stuck in the new graduated licensing legislation.
While waiting in the parking spot for her tester to get into her father’s station wagon, Gallaugher saw two testers walk out together. Sure enough, Tucker opened the door of the car and got in.
“We got through the test, him barking instructions, me following them,” she said.
After returning to the MTO offices, she assumed she’d failed a second time.
“I hand the paperwork to the lady, expecting to have to book another test, when she tells me to step over to get my picture taken," Gallaugher said. "I ask what for and she says, 'for your licence.'"
"I thought I failed,” she added with a laugh. “My friends from school were so worried about getting Tucker (that) they had booked their driver exams in other towns, even as far away as Midland and Newmarket, to avoid him.”
Now, all these years later, Gallaugher looks back fondly at the man who, eventually, trusted her enough on the road to give her a driver’s licence.
“I feel that he was strict yet fair. It was actually a bragging point to have been given your licence from the infamous Tucker,” she said.
Although Barrie native Michael Gennings didn’t undergo his own driving test with Tucker, the man had a reputation among local teens, including many of Gennings’ close friends at the time.
“I hadn’t thought about Mr. Tucker in years and years,” he acknowledged, adding he stumbled upon the obituary posted in a local Facebook group. “Before I even read anything, I knew who it was.
"I loved how they made mention that he was a driving instructor in Barrie," Gennings added. "That made me chuckle and validated my own memories of him having this reputation as a tough as nails driving examiner.”
In high school, when someone was set to take their road test, the question was always asked if they knew who their examiner was going to be — and many fingers crossed that it wouldn’t be Tucker, Gennings recalled.
“Back then … you’d get your 365 and then after a short period later you could just go for your G-licence. It was a big deal to be able to get your licence at 16," he said. "People would come back and be like, ‘Ah, I didn’t pass … I had Tucker’ … and they’d have to go back and do a second … or third time.
"Being teenagers, you never took responsibility for maybe (you) just weren't ready to drive yet. There were these high-school legends around why Mr. Tucker was a tough-as-nails examiner.”
Looking back, though, Gennings says he's grateful that Tucker wouldn’t just pass drivers who weren't ready to be solo on the road.
“I think his approach to it helped keep city roads and Ontario roads a little safer, because he kept people from driving who weren’t ready to be on the road yet," Gennings said. "If he did grant you your licence, you had proved to him that you were a responsible driver and safe motorist.
“Certainly, that would be one of his legacies … he made sure you were ready to get behind the wheel. That’s a huge responsibility for a young person to be granted.”
In keeping with Tucker's wishes, cremation has taken place. A small family celebration of life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations to Grey Bruce Hospice – Chapman House, Owen Sound Animal Shelter, or a charity of your choice in his honour would be greatly appreciated.
