Arthur Edward Newman

Arthur “Art” Edward Newman of Cleveland Heights, Ohio, whose unique tenor vocals evoked his idol Frank Sinatra, and who relished music and vaudeville, science fiction novels and movies, the occasional towering corned beef sandwich from the Chagrin Boulevard location of Corky & Lenny’s Deli, and, of course, his two daughters, Barbara and Carol—died peacefully on June 22, 2015 in Roseville, California. Art was born on June 6, 1930, to Ellis Island immigrants Moses Neumann, a.k.a. Maxwell Newman (1899-1969), and Sarah Davis Newman (1909-1984). A native Clevelander, he spent 72 years in the “Sixth City” until 2002, when he boldly bought a one-way ticket on the Amtrak Zephyr to begin a new life in the Lincoln Hills, California, Sun City Del Webb retirement community—and be nearer to his daughters. Art quickly rekindled old loves for billiards and golf. The irresistible pull of the stage led him to the Players Performance Group, where he combined acting with crooning prowess. His dear friend, Julie Rigali, fondly recounts among many of his dramatic and comic roles, one debut as an elf in lederhosen. He also sang multiple numbers annually in the Music Group’s crowd-pulling Showcase production. When off-stage, Art couldn’t help but charm friends with his ardent acoustics, including “My Way” and other classics. He lived at Del Webb until 2012 when his illness became too challenging. Yet even in his last years at Alta Manor Assisted Living, he regularly roused himself to sing for other residents at special events. He is a 1948 graduate of John Adams Cleveland Public High School. Although Art graduated with a BA in Sociology (’54) from Fenn College (which became Cleveland State University), his transcripts reveal ample delight in the humanities: Shakespeare, Spanish Drama, Modern British Drama, Radio Dramatics, Choir, and Principles of Acting. More sensible than a risk taker, Art abandoned dreams of acting to study Library Science at Case Western Reserve in Cleveland, Ohio, where he earned his MS degree in 1961. He held eclectic jobs from CRT operator at Mt Sinai, to cabbie, to secretary for men’s clothier Richman Brothers, to head librarian at Mansfield’s Ohio State Reformatory. His last position was with Standard Oil of Ohio (SOHIO) as a steno secretary, where his word processing skills and perfect attendance were appreciated. He stayed with the company long after the merger with British Petroleum (BP), up until his retirement. Art will join his parents and be laid to rest at Mount Olive Cemetery in Solon, Ohio. He is preceded in death by his wife, Natalie Newman (1990) and sister Evelyn E. “Evie” Newman (2013). He is survived by and will be remembered by his two daughters, Barbara Claire Rybicki of Santa Rosa, California and Carol Maxine Newman, of Carmel Valley, CA, and by nephew Howard L. (Kelly) Blecher of Flushing, Ohio. Silver rivulets gently bide slow, gurgling, meandering paths, where blanched, golden nimrods arch and quake in frozen sunlight, and across the vale of silent snow, sub-zero tightly grips this white cradle beneath the mountain. -Arthur E. Newman, 1981