Denis Newman

Denis Newman passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on September 26, 2024. He was 94 years old. Born Denis O’Brien Newman on June 9, 1930, in a private home in Short Hills, NJ to Rockwell and Helen Newman, his life was defined by his deep love for family, strong work ethic, and Catholic faith.

Denis attended Seton Hall Prep and then graduated with a BA from Yale University in 1952 and MBA from Harvard Business School in 1954. After HBS, he built a distinguished career in investment banking and private equity. He spent over three decades at First Boston, serving as a Managing Director for over twenty years. During this period, he led over two hundred public offerings and helped shape the firm’s global investment banking business. In the early 1970’s, he was the lead corporate finance banker for Merrill Lynch’s IPO among other securities firms, which recapitalized the securities business at the time. In the late 1970s, he ran the firm’s international investment banking business, which, along with Credit Suisse, had responsibility for all international investment banking activities. Denis later founded, built and managed the Investment Group from 1981-1986 which, together with the LBO Group, was responsible for all of the non-real estate proprietary investments made by the firm and its limited partnerships. He was also a founding and continuous member of The First Boston Investment Committee. Given his financial acumen and global savvy, Denis also spent time on loan as a Financial Officer with the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (The World Bank).

When Denis retired from First Boston (Credit Suisse) in 1989, he co-founded MidMark Capital, a private equity firm where he continued his work in raising capital and leading successful investments for more than two decades. He served as a director of twenty-seven companies, including six publicly owned corporations.

While Denis enjoyed much success in his career, his true legacy was his integrity, intellect, and devotion to family. He was a gentleman in every sense of the word. He was married to the love of his life, Mary Newman, for 55 years until her passing in 2022. Denis and Mary met at The Bluffs in Bay Head, NJ and were married in 1966 at St. Mary’s Church in Greenwich, CT. They raised their three children in Short Hills, NJ and shared a deep commitment to their Catholic faith, attending daily mass for over thirty years. Denis' faith was a focal point in his life, and he served as Eucharistic Minister at St. Rose of Lima and St. Barnabas Hospital. He attended over fifty annual retreats at the Loyola house in Morristown, NJ and made a lasting impact with his support of Blessed Sacrament Church in Harbour Island, Bahamas.

Denis was a dual citizen of Ireland and the United States and lived a truly global life, traveling to more than one hundred countries. He traveled the world during his career and continued his love of travel with his wife and children. Denis cherished spending time in Harbour Island, Bahamas where his parents were winter residents since 1948. He also built lifelong memories with family and friends at Caragh Lake in County Kerry, Ireland where the family has a holiday home. Denis particularly enjoyed long-time family traditions — hosting an annual Derby Day party in Short Hills, celebrating New Year’s Eve in Harbour Island, and joining sing-alongs at Nick’s in Ireland. Denis was a long-standing current member of The Links Club in Manhattan and Short Hills Club in Short Hills, NJ.

Denis' life reflected his deep convictions and sense of commitment and humility. He is survived by his three children and their spouses: Stephen (Meg) of Far Hills, NJ, Brian (Lynne) of Bedford, NY and Kerry (Paul) of Wellesley, MA, and by ten grandchildren: Kendall, Conor, Shay, Finley, Samantha, Liam, Colin, Henry, Ryan and Katherine.

A visitation will be held at the family residence on Friday, October 4, from 4-6 PM. Funeral mass will be offered on Saturday, October 5, at 9:30 AM at St. Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church, 50 Short Hills Avenue, Short Hills, NJ 07078. A repass luncheon will be held on Saturday, following the mass, at 11AM at the Short Hills Club, 9-37 Lake Shore Drive, Short Hills, NJ 07078.

Donations in Denis Newman's name may be made to Loyola Jesuit Center, Morristown, NJ at www.loyola.org