Gerorge Curby Newman

March 20, 1930 -

February 28, 2018

George Curby Newman passed away on February 28th, just three weeks shy of his 88th birthday. Faithful husband of Ida (nee Landis), proud father of Tim (Tryna Thompson) and Carrie (Collin Lockhart), and even prouder grandfather of Conner, Carson, Brendan, & Dana. Dear brother of Betty (Doc Pennington) and uncle to Carol Ann and Dennis.

Please join George's family for lunch & laughter as we honor a life well lived. We'll gather at the Iroquois Club (43248 Woodward Ave., Bloomfield Hills), on Saturday, May 19th from noon to 3:00 PM

He answered to George, Bud, Lefty, Coach, Ref, Grandpa and Poppy. Born on March 20th, 1930 in Detroit to George Herman Newman and Georgia Rose Newman (nee Davis), he grew up in Detroit and Lake Orion. Summers spent on the lake gave him his lifelong love of the water. He graduated from Northwestern High School in Detroit, where he lettered in golf and baseball. George attended Wayne State University, graduating in 1954 with a Bachelor’s degree in Education. He then taught in the Detroit Public School system at Foch Middle School and the old Eastern High School.

George served in the Army from 1954 to 1956, including time as an intelligence clerk in Austria where he enjoyed skiing in the Alps. After an honorable discharge, he earned his Master’s degree in Education from Wayne State under the GI Bill. George returned to the DPS as a physical education teacher and coach, eventually becoming the Athletic Director at Southeastern High School. Over his career George coached and officiated Detroit Public School League (PSL) football, basketball, baseball, track, cross country, golf, tennis, swimming and probably some other things that we're forgetting. During this time, he mentored a student named Mikle Brown, who has remained a part of the family.

George married in 1962, and later moved to Beverly Hills where he coached his children's baseball teams and officiated their swim meets. He was a longtime Red Cross volunteer, and proudly took underprivileged kids to camp. As a Water Safety Instructor Trainer, George helped them and many others become lifeguards.

After retiring in 1989, George loved to golf and took up running, even completing two marathons. He continued officiating swim, track, and cross country meets all over Michigan. He ran the PSL Swim and Tennis Championships for years. He babysat his grandchildren, taught them to play cards, and took them ziplining.

George loved kids and he loved sports, and the thing he loved most was kids who played sports. For that reason, his family is endowing a scholarship in his name to be awarded each year to one male and one female athlete graduating from the PSL to be used toward their post-secondary education. In lieu of flowers, please help these kids by sending donations made out to "Detroit Public Schools Foundation", with "George Newman Scholarship Fund" in the memo area, to DPS Foundation, Fisher Building Suite 1004, 3011 W. Grand Boulevard, Detroit, MI 48202