Noreen Marcantonio Damude was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Damude moved to Toronto, Ontario, Canada in 1970. Stemming from a background in Art History and languages, Noreen became interested in filmmaking and was an early investor in the independent Canadian thriller
Sudden Fury (1975). Besides being an associate producer on the film, Damude also served as an assistant editor on
Sudden Fury (1975) in exchange for points in the profits on the picture. Noreen went on to become both an author and a botanist. In addition, Damude eventually moved to Austin, Texas and became associated with the University of Texas.