Dr. William P. Newman, III

Dr. William P. (Bill) Newman, III, passed away peacefully on May 9 at the age of 81, surrounded by his loving family. Bill was born in Hodge, Louisiana on August 9, 1941, to William P. Newman, Jr. and Ruth Walpole Newman. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Diane Catalano Newman, their two children, Rachel Winter (Eric) and William Newman (Katie), and his seven grandchildren, Jane, William, and Patrick Newman and Bradley, John, Sarah, and Jacob Winter. He is also survived by his brother Frederic Newman (Chris), brothers in laws Gerald Catalano (Laurie) and Roy Catalano (Cheryl), and numerous nieces and nephews.

Bill graduated from Jonesboro Hodge High School in 1959 where he was student body president and editor of the yearbook. He then attended Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge followed by LSU Medical School in 1962, taking time off to complete atherosclerosis research in the Amazon, before graduating in top of his class in 1967. In 1971, Dr. Newman completed a pathology residency in the LSU program at Charity Hospital and then joined the LSU School of Medicine faculty in the Department of Pathology, as a board certified pathologist. He retired as a Professor Emeritus of Pathology in 2017 after 46 years of service.

Over the course of his prestigious career, Dr. Newman taught the pathology course to medical students and supervised pathology residents at Charity Hospital and the coroner’s office. He also performed over 10,000 autopsies, including those from Hurricane Katrina. Dr. Newman was an active researcher, having published and co-authored over a hundred research articles in atherosclerosis, PDAY (Pathobiological Determinants of Atherosclerosis in Youth), the Bogalusa heart study, and studies in heart disease in circumpolar health. He also made numerous appearances in court representing the coroner’s office and worked as a Laboratory Inspector for the College of American Pathologists.

Dr. Newman was not only a well-respected and beloved member of the medical community, but he was also notably a loving son, brother, husband, father and friend. A kind and patient man, Dr. Newman will be remembered for his love of traveling, especially to Maine, watching his grandchildren in their activities, and cheering on the New Orleans Saints. Dr. Newman was also very involved in his church parish, St. Clement of Rome, where he was a member of the church choir and men’s group. He also cherished a yearly retreat at the Jesuit Manresa retreat house.

The family wishes to thank the staff at Peristyle for their compassionate and gentle care.

Services for Dr. William P. Newman, III, will be held on Wednesday, May 17, 2023 at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd New Orleans, LA 70124. Visitation will begin at 10 AM followed by Mass at 12 PM. Interment will be at All Saints Mausoleum.

Outside of his love for God and his family, Dr. Newman’s passion lay in teaching medical students and mentoring residents. In order to carry on the legacy he created through the joy of teaching, his family has established an endowed scholarship in his memory. The Dr. William P. Newman III scholarship will be bestowed yearly on a deserving medical student.

Memorials in his honor may be directed to The Dr. William P. Newman III Endowed Scholarship Fund for the School of Medicine at LSU Health Sciences Center, New Orleans. Donations can be mailed to LSU Health Foundation, 2000 Tulane Ave 4th Floor, New Orleans LA 70112. Please make checks payable to “LSU Health Foundation,” with the reference “Newman” or you may make an online gift by visiting https://give.lsuhealthfoundation.org/newman