Obituary of Richard G. Newton
Richard G. Newton was born to Emerson and Renie Newton in Binghamton, NY on December 7, 1932 and died in Rochester, NY on August 11, 2017. He was predeceased by his parents and sister, Vivian. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Nancy Sanfilippo Newton, his immediate family, sons Gregory (Rochester, NY) and Adam (Durham, NC), Adam’s wife Beth, and grandsons, Elias and William, as well as his brother-in-law, sister-in-law, and nephews.
Professor Newton graduated from Harpur College (SUNY Binghamton) and received his PhD in Romance Languages from Johns Hopkins University. He was a Fulbright Scholar in Turin, Italy, served in US Army Intelligence in Panama, and was the director of the Indiana University study abroad program in Bologna, Italy. After teaching at Indiana University, he taught at the University of Maine (Orono). From 1976 until his retirement, Professor Newton taught Italian and Spanish at St. John Fisher College, where he twice received the outstanding teacher award.
“Dick” had an incredibly active mind, was fascinated by languages and people, found great joy in reading mysteries and Christian theology, and believed a martini should be made with gin and the merest hint of vermouth (no olive!). He loved doing crossword puzzles and listening to classical and jazz music, especially Sarah Vaughan, Billie Holiday, and Ella Fitzgerald. Dick was a great dancer, having been forced to learn by his sister at an early age. Dick never met a cat or dog he didn’t love, was known to sneak cookies to neighbor dogs, and was graced with a wonderful if complicated relationship with Norman, his 20-pound deaf white cat. As a child, he had a cat named Pepsi Cola, a dog named Spot, and a rooster named Lungs.
Dick had a wonderful, witty, self-deprecating sense of humor, and touched all who knew him with his wisdom, kindness, and learning. Memorial contributions in his name may be made to Garth Fagan Dance.
A memorial service will be held at St. Mark’s and St. John’s Episcopal Church, 1245 Culver Rd. Rochester, NY on Friday, September 8, 2017 at 11:00am.