John Anthony Newell, 79, of Shrewsbury, died peacefully Dec. 29, 2021, in Red Bank. John was born May 19, 1942, in Philadelphia and was a longtime resident of Middletown.
John married the love of his life, Pauline Joan (Secunda) Newell, in 1965. After many years of a laughter-filled partnership, “Polly” assumed the role of caregiver. His goal in life was to always keep her smiling, which he did successfully while she devoted herself to his care and well-being.
John is survived by his two loving daughters, Pamela Newell Sullivan of Canton, Massachusetts, and Ann Marie Newell of San Francisco. He is also survived by his two granddaughters, Katherine Murphy of Washington, D.C. and Charlotte Callaghan of San Francisco. Katie and Charlotte both enjoyed spending time as children with their playful PopPop who loved to create elaborate, rhyming holiday treasure hunts for them.
John was the son of the late Albert and Mary (Sharkless) Newell of Philadelphia and was always surrounded by girls and women, including his sister Patricia Joan Reagan of West Chester Pennsylvania, the late Elaine Newell Leimkuhler of Feasterville, Pennsylvania, and Rosemarie Newell Gulla of Carrboro, North Carolina. Johnny is survived by a large extended family and many friends who all loved him dearly for his outgoing personality and sense of humor.
John attended St. Benedict’s Grammar School and LaSalle College High School in Philadelphia. He received degrees in electrical engineering from Drexel University (B.S.) and M.I.T. (M.S.) and had a long career at Bell Labs and AT&T in Holmdel. He was a gifted manager with equal parts people skills and deep technical knowledge. John traveled internationally representing Bell Labs and AT&T giving professional talks. John especially enjoyed his time working in Geneva in the late 1990s.
John was passionate about mathematics, technology and pretty much anything he could take apart, fix or build. He loved music, played the clarinet and piano, and was an avid fan of Broadway musicals. He enjoyed playing golf, tennis and skiing. He spent years trying to handicap thoroughbred horseracing using his own custom software program (Bozo). He built computers, fixed cars and believed he could re-wire anything. A willing performer and entertainer, John staged and emceed numerous events. He was an enthusiastic planner of trips, parties and outings. He always had a twinkle in his eye, thinking about the next adventure.
A celebration of John’s life will be held in the spring, most likely at Monmouth Park Racetrack.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent in John’s memory to Lunch Break, 121 Drs. James Parker Blvd., Red Bank, NJ 07701 or lunchbreak.org or The Salvation Army at salvationarmyusa.org.
The article originally appeared in the January 6 – 12, 2022 print edition of The Two River Times.
