Norma Rae Long, an educator who taught sports and directed lifelong learning programs, died of multiple organ failure Feb. 15 at Gilchrist Center Towson. She was 86 and lived at Edenwald Senior Living in Towson.

Born in Princess Anne, she was the daughter of Edith Hooks Long, a homemaker and grocery store worker and Raymond Ayde Long, a mechanic. She won a scholarship to the University of Maryland, College Park, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in physical education.

She then taught at Franklin Junior High, Loch Raven Junior High and Dulaney Valley Senior High in Baltimore County schools.

After getting a master’s degree, also at College Park, she taught at Essex Community College and chaired its physical education department.

In 1973, she became director of non-credit programs at Essex.

“This was a job that would become her life’s passion,” said her stepson, Steven King. “For her, it was always about continuing your education. She was fun, witty and had a sharp sense of humor. She was always the educator and would correct grammar, no matter who you were.”

After earning her doctorate at College Park, she became Towson University’s Dean of Continuing Studies.

While visiting a friend in Pittsburgh, Norma met and fell in love with Janice Carver. The two became life-long partners and were married in Canada in 2004.

At her 1993 retirement, Towson University conferred upon her the title Dean Emerita and named a scholarship in her honor.

A year later, she took on the directorship of the Renaissance Institute at Notre Dame of Maryland University.

She had served as board chair of Strength in Numbers, which provides programs for victims of domestic and sexual assault. She was a Baltimore Neighborhoods vice president and board member of Timothy House.

She trained at the Baltimore Mediation Center and was a mediator for the Baltimore County Police Department and the Maryland Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division.

“Her heart was always on the Eastern Shore,” said Pat Montley, a friend. “She owned a cozy Ocean City cottage where she spent her free time for nearly 45 years. She named it Pizazz and loved the place. She would get up early in the morning and cut the grass or wash her car. She used to say, ‘I need to earn my breakfast.'”

Ms. Montley also said, “Norma was wise and you could count on her for good advice. You could also call her at 3 a.m. if you needed help.”

She had been a four-letter athlete in high school and played basketball for the University of Maryland. She later played tennis doubles with a women’s group at Greenspring Racquet Club.

She donated her body to medical science.

Services are private.

Survivors include her partner and spouse of 40 years, Janice Carver, a software manager; two stepsons, Steven King, of Baltimore and Peter King, of Penryn, California; and her sister, Linda Holsinger of Berlin, Maryland.

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