Richard (Dick) Newman passed to the heavenly realm on Friday, September 6th. On July 3, 1944, Dick was born to his overjoyed parents, Edward and Margie (Yates) Newman. He graduated from Geneva High School in 1962; received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Northern Colorado, where he was named Football Player of the Year his senior season; and his master’s from South Dakota State University. He ultimately got a doctorate from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Dick spent his coaching career in both football and swimming, while teaching various college courses. For most of the years, he was in the middle part of the United States, with the exception of 6 years in California. He had a special fondness for Western State College in Gunnison, CO; Peru State College in Peru, NE (where Dick met his second wife, Julie); and Presbyterian College in Clinton, SC. The years in South Carolina followed the completion of Dick’s doctorate, and he was Head of the Physical Education Department, where he oversaw other coach’s classes and taught theory classes himself. He spent 16 years serving in that capacity.  In 2010, he was named Professor of the Year. Many of his past co-workers, players, students, and hometown friends have stayed in touch with him through the years, which is a testimony to their respect and gratitude for him.

His favorite pastimes were fishing and hunting, and he was definitely in his element while in Colorado. He loved sports: playing them, coaching them, refereeing them, and watching them. In fact, when he retired to Lincoln, NE, he enjoyed being a University of Nebraska event staff member for several sports.

Dick married Julie (Ryder) Antholz in 1988. He is survived by his daughter, Courtney Newman; stepchildren, Machaela (Antholz) and John Beltzer, and Martin Antholz; grandchildren, Chloe (Newman) and Jamie Bair, Kallyn (Antholz) and Wesley Higgins, Alan and Oliver Antholz; and great-granddaughter, 4 month old Emberly Jean Higgins. Preceding Dick in death were his parents, his daughter, Paige Newman; stepson, Alan Antholz; and brother, Steve Newman.

Grieving him are his stepmother, Dorothy Newman; sister-in-law, Mary Jo Newman; and his half-siblings, Melany (Newman) and Pat Fullencamp, Natalie (Newman) and Cordell Jordan, and Jordan (and Amy) Newman. “Uncle Dick” will be missed by several nieces and nephews, as well as by his neighbors and many friends. Dick made efforts throughout his life to stay in touch with the many people he cared about and made a special effort to say goodbye near the end.

A sincere thank you to his general practitioner, his cardiology doctors and nurses, and in his last weeks, the help of St. Croix Hospice personnel.

Mr. Newman has chosen to be cremated and wanted no service. A private Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. The family would enjoy reading any thoughts and/or memories of him. Memorials may be sent, in his name, to Aspen Cremation and Burial Services for future allocations; 4822 Cleveland Ave., Lincoln NE 68504.

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