- Date Of Birth: April 17, 1923
- Date Of Death: March 21, 2009
- State: Arizona
James Kevin Newman, resident of Paradise Valley, AZ since 1957, passed away March 21, 2009 near his home of 50 years.
Born in Brooklyn, NY on April 23, 1923, to James J. and Marie Kevin Newman, Kevin was raised in Akron, OH. He attended Choate Preparatory and then went on to Princeton University, where he played football and was a member of the Cap and Gown Club.
WWII and enlistment in the US Navy cut short his college career. In his 3 years as a Naval Carrier Aviator, he rose to Squadron Commander, having a significant hand in training dozens of carrier pilots. He would quip that his patrolling the Gulf of Mexico spared Texas from invasion.
He met the love of his life, Mary Bradley Newman, shortly after discharge. Mary and Kevin had six children in the East before Kevin fulfilled a lifelong dream of living in the Southwest. Kevin led Mary and their family to Arizona to settle on the eastern slope of Mummy Mountain. Their family grew to eight children, all of whom grew up in the wide spaces of Arizona, and like their father all still cherish and actively enjoy the beauty of this state.
After time with PanAgra as a commercial pilot in South America, Mr. Newman was in Product Development and Sales with several aerospace firms and served as National Sales Manager for CampTrails Outdoor Equipment. He ventured into several business endeavors, and was the owner and host of The Salad Bar in Metro Center for 10 years. As an employer, his gentle nature modeled work ethics and guided scores of youth to own the same.
An avid outdoorsman, Kevin hunted witha 45 pound bow, and his hunting and camping trips are legendary. Kevin was a talented athlete, with tennis his favorite sport. He was nationally ranked and played competitively until almost 80 years old. He was the eldest teaching pro to be certified in the USTA Southwest District. He passed his passion for the game to generations of students at the Phoenix Parks & Recreation Department as well as to many of his children and grandchildren.
Kevin was a devout Catholic and his faith was integral to his life. He was a daily hero in the raising of a family of eight children, and in conducting all of his affairs with the utmost honesty, integrity, dignity and humor, always a gentleman. He was an example of a loving, kind, calm family man, and through many and some hard learned lessons earned a wisdom that he shared. He will be missed and may he rest in peace.
Ready to greet him in Heaven are his parents, Marie and James Newman, and his wife Mary Bradley Newman. Kevin and Mary’s children are Mary Lemionet of Scottsdale, Kevin (Peggy) Newman of Payson, Bradley of Prescott, Dennis of Seattle, Jim of Scottsdale, Janie of Prescott, Annie (Craig) Tribken of Boise, and John (Tammy) Newman of Poway, CA. Six grandchildren and one great-grandchild love their Grandpa. Kevin’s sister, Patricia Rummage, and others of his extended families joined him in the Valley, and still reside in Scottsdale and Paradise Valley.
Heartfelt thanks to Hospice of the Valley, nurse Caroline Adams and CNA Virginia Formanach for their wonderful support.
