Obituary for Newton Collins Churchill
NEWTON C. CHURCHILL
Newton “Newt” Collins Churchill, age 86, died on Thursday, February 4, 2021 in
Duxbury, Massachusetts, after a short illness. He was the son of the late Newton C.
Churchill and Eugenia O. Churchill. Newt was born in Portland, Maine and attended
Deering High School, where he played baseball and basketball, served as President of
the Junior Red Cross and was voted "Most Industrious." He attended Yale University,
graduating with a B.A. in American Studies in 1956.
Thereafter he joined the Navy as part of the Reserve Officer Training Program, serving
his country for four years as a pilot and judicial officer and rising to the rank of
Lieutenant. During a training mission off the coast of San Diego, his plane stalled while
he was 50 miles out to sea. Remembering his training, Newt glided while following the
procedure to restart the engine. He returned unharmed (and returned the plane
unharmed, noted his commander) to the base in San Diego. For his courage and calm
demeanor in this life-threatening situation, he received a letter of commendation.
He began a career in publishing with Little, Brown in New York and later Boston, selling
textbooks to school districts in the Northeast and marketing new titles. He met Carol
Ann Taylor through a mutual friend in publishing and they were married in Boston in
1967, later settling in Sudbury, MA, one of the towns in Newt's territory, which he knew
had excellent schools -- because they purchased high quality textbooks.
Always a big fan of the Red Sox, Celtics, and Patriots, he encouraged his sons Chris
and Oliver to pursue team sports from an early age. He'd often leave work early to
attend their afternoon games. In fact, he made a point of never missing a game, recital,
parent conference or school play. Newt enjoyed coaching basketball, baseball and
soccer teams and volunteered as a line judge and referee on the weekends. One of his
signature coaching moves was to diagram basketball plays on the floor for the kids on
the team using nickels, dimes, and quarters, an approach that many team members
remember fondly now, over 40 years later.
An early riser his whole life, Newt kept himself in shape with a daily regimen of sit-ups,
pushups and leg lifts, which he began at 5:30 AM most mornings. He would also park
his car half a mile from his office, so he could get regular exercise walking up and down
hills.
In his early 40s, Newt began a new career as an investment broker, first with Dean
Witter, then A.G. Edwards & Sons, Wachovia and WellsFargo Advisors as the industry
consolidated. He enjoyed working with clients, including teachers, local business
owners, laborers and business executives to help manage and grow their life’s savings.
He retired after 35 years in the business and he and Carol moved to Duxbury, MA.
Newt was an active member of the Unitarian Universalist Church in Sudbury, serving in
various roles and reading from the Bible on Sundays. In retirement, he and Carol
travelled extensively and Newt facilitated monthly, non-partisan political discussions
with fellow residents on world affairs and current events.
He was always ready to provide thoughtful advice and encouragement to his sons. His
favorite event was a quiet dinner at home, sometimes while monitoring the scores of
Boston sports teams.
Newt is survived by his wife of 54 years, Carol Taylor Churchill, son Christopher Newton
Churchill and his wife Anayansia Thomas, son Oliver Elliott Churchill and his wife Dr.
Alice Shen, and four grandchildren, Victoria, Liam, Warren and Harrison Churchill. A
military memorial service will be held at a later date. Burial will be private.
Obituary lovingly written by the family of Newton Churchill
Newton “Newt” Collins Churchill, age 86, died on Thursday, February 4, 2021 in
Duxbury, Massachusetts, after a short illness. He was the son of the late Newton C.
Churchill and Eugenia O. Churchill. Newt was born in Portland, Maine and attended
Deering High School, where he played baseball and basketball, served as President of
the Junior Red Cross and was voted "Most Industrious." He attended Yale University,
graduating with a B.A. in American Studies in 1956.
Thereafter he joined the Navy as part of the Reserve Officer Training Program, serving
his country for four years as a pilot and judicial officer and rising to the rank of
Lieutenant. During a training mission off the coast of San Diego, his plane stalled while
he was 50 miles out to sea. Remembering his training, Newt glided while following the
procedure to restart the engine. He returned unharmed (and returned the plane
unharmed, noted his commander) to the base in San Diego. For his courage and calm
demeanor in this life-threatening situation, he received a letter of commendation.
He began a career in publishing with Little, Brown in New York and later Boston, selling
textbooks to school districts in the Northeast and marketing new titles. He met Carol
Ann Taylor through a mutual friend in publishing and they were married in Boston in
1967, later settling in Sudbury, MA, one of the towns in Newt's territory, which he knew
had excellent schools -- because they purchased high quality textbooks.
Always a big fan of the Red Sox, Celtics, and Patriots, he encouraged his sons Chris
and Oliver to pursue team sports from an early age. He'd often leave work early to
attend their afternoon games. In fact, he made a point of never missing a game, recital,
parent conference or school play. Newt enjoyed coaching basketball, baseball and
soccer teams and volunteered as a line judge and referee on the weekends. One of his
signature coaching moves was to diagram basketball plays on the floor for the kids on
the team using nickels, dimes, and quarters, an approach that many team members
remember fondly now, over 40 years later.
An early riser his whole life, Newt kept himself in shape with a daily regimen of sit-ups,
pushups and leg lifts, which he began at 5:30 AM most mornings. He would also park
his car half a mile from his office, so he could get regular exercise walking up and down
hills.
In his early 40s, Newt began a new career as an investment broker, first with Dean
Witter, then A.G. Edwards & Sons, Wachovia and WellsFargo Advisors as the industry
consolidated. He enjoyed working with clients, including teachers, local business
owners, laborers and business executives to help manage and grow their life’s savings.
He retired after 35 years in the business and he and Carol moved to Duxbury, MA.
Newt was an active member of the Unitarian Universalist Church in Sudbury, serving in
various roles and reading from the Bible on Sundays. In retirement, he and Carol
travelled extensively and Newt facilitated monthly, non-partisan political discussions
with fellow residents on world affairs and current events.
He was always ready to provide thoughtful advice and encouragement to his sons. His
favorite event was a quiet dinner at home, sometimes while monitoring the scores of
Boston sports teams.
Newt is survived by his wife of 54 years, Carol Taylor Churchill, son Christopher Newton
Churchill and his wife Anayansia Thomas, son Oliver Elliott Churchill and his wife Dr.
Alice Shen, and four grandchildren, Victoria, Liam, Warren and Harrison Churchill. A
military memorial service will be held at a later date. Burial will be private.
Obituary lovingly written by the family of Newton Churchill