Richard A. Newman, M.D., 87, of Downingtown, passed away on Tuesday, July 3, 2018 at Tel Hai Retirement Community. He was the beloved husband of Nancy Jane Werdelin Newman, with whom he shared 64 years of marriage.
Born in Chicago, Illinois, he was the son of the late Henry and Mildred Haaker Newman.
Dick was one of the kindest, most considerate, most intelligent men to walk this earth. He graciously helped others through their most difficult circumstances whenever he saw a need. When he had the choice to do what was easy or what was right, he always chose to do what was right. Dick was devoted to his wife and family and his life should be celebrated rather than mourned, though it is hard to achieve this through our tears. Dick was loved more than he knew and will forever be missed.
Dr. Newman was a Distinguished Fellow of both the American Psychiatric Association and the American Psychoanalytic Association, receiving recognition for Lifetime Achievement from both. He was a former member of the Philadelphia Psychoanalytic Institute. He was professor and director of psychiatric residency training at Hahnemann Medical College. He was Clinical Professor and Director of Continuing Medical Education at MCP.
He received his BS and MD from University of Illinois' 6-year program. He Interned and began Residency at Swedish Hospital in Illinois. He joined the US Army Medical Corps and was Chief of Schizophrenia Research at Walter Reed and Commanded the army's largest military psychiatric unit at Valley Forge. He started private practice in Coatesville and supported the building of Paoli Hospital, where he founded their inpatient psychiatric unit, 4-West.
After retiring he remained active as a therapist for the Commonwealth Department of Corrections, doing telemedicine therapy, and serving as a locum tenens doctor, most notably in Alaska, where he achieved a childhood dream of mushing a dog sled.
He has volunteered his time in the past as a doctor on the Caribbean island of Saint Lucia and to the present time a trustee of the Marshall - Reynolds Foundation for philanthropy.
In addition to his wife, Dick is survived by his four sons; John, Kurt (Sue), Rick and Scott (Barb); a sister, Kay Severence (Jay); seven grandchildren, Kirsten, Erik, Alex, Ryan, Jamie, Michael and Zach and six great grandchildren, Alexis, Amelia, Caroline, Natalie, Braiden and Lilly.
A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Monday, July 9, 2018 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 104 S. Village Avenue, Exton, where family and friends will be received from 9:30-10:45 a.m.
Interment will be in the church cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Brandywine YMCA Coatesville, 295 Hurley Road, Coatesville, PA 19320.
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