Obituary Mr N. F. Oberg

Press, 21 August 1984, Page 8

Obituary Mr N. F. Oberg

A well known book merchant and consultant, Mr Norman Francis Oberg, died at his home in Christchurch yesterday. He was 59. Mr Oberg was the proprietor of Smith’s Bookshop in Manchester Street for more than 15 years, and was widely respected for both his knowledge of books and willingness to go to great lengths to obtain books for his customers. Mr Oberg purchased Smith’s Bookshop with a base of 160,000 books, and through his efforts the shop’s stock grew to 360,000 volumes. A friend described him as a “Robin Hood” in that he was always willing to discount book prices for people who wanted books badly but could not afford them.

His services as a book consultant were sought as far afield as Australia. He had special interests in art and the Pacific Islands, and his shop has been described as an “unofficial . consulate for the Cook Islands” because of his willingness to help people from the Cook Islands or other Pacific Islands who were in trouble. “He was interested in people. He loved people and he never stopped giving. He had a very big heart,” a friend said. Mr Oberg was a stalwart member of the New Brighton Surf Life-Saving Club until his death, and was an active life-saver, in the 10 years after World War 11. Mr Oberg’s death came after a long illness. He is survived by his wife and three daughters.