PAUL M. NEWBERNE

1920 - 2015

NEWBERNE, Paul M. 94, of Bedford, Massachusetts, passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on March 22nd, after a long illness. He is survived by his beloved wife of 69 years, Lillian; his cherished daughter, Jo Carol Wood, and her husband George Wood; and his son-in-law, John C. Serio. He was predeceased by his loving daughter, Judy. Paul was born November 4, 1920 on a cotton and peanut farm in southern Georgia. Early on, he learned firsthand the rigors and rewards of growing up on a farm. Determined to acquire an education, he started his illustrious academic career in a three teacher elementary school within walking distance of his family's farm. After receiving his high school diploma from the county high school, Paul began his college education at a local community college, interrupting his studies to work on behalf of the American Express Company at the 1939 World's Fair in New York. His efforts at the World's Fair allowed him to continue his studies at the University of Georgia, where he completed two years prior to entering the Navy. Paul was a member of the "Greatest Generation," serving as a Naval Aviator during World War II, from 1942 until 1945. He flew a variety of planes, including the B-17 and B-54. After serving four years as a Navy pilot, Paul entered the College of Veterinary Medicine at Auburn University where he received a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree in 1950. He then earned a Master of Science (Sc.M.) degree in Veterinary Pathology in 1951. After two years in private practice, he entered a Ph.D. program in Nutritional Biochemistry, with a minor in Human Pathology, at the University of Missouri - Columbia, which he received in 1958. In the same year, Paul returned to Auburn University to direct a laboratory of Experimental Pathology in the Nutrition Department. In 1962, Paul accepted an appointment to the faculty at MIT. Upon his retirement from MIT after 24 years, Paul then became a Professor of Pathology at the Mallory Institute, of the Boston University School of Medicine, where he served for 10 years. Paul was a true academic leader and advised more than 150 students through the years. He mentored more than 50 Ph.D. students into interesting and productive careers. Many of these students were international, so his influence reached the far corners of the world. In particular, his work in the area of Food Nutrition extended to countries as far as Thailand, Turkey, Russia, and Australia, where he worked with governments and food companies to improve the purity of food supplies in emerging countries. Paul was, for many years, a science advisor to the Royal Family of Thailand, where he worked in the area of food nutrition and purity in order to improve the quality of life for the people of Thailand. In addition to Thailand, Paul, and his wife Lillian, traveled to over 70 countries in their married life together. They both possessed a love for new horizons and meeting new people and learning about the culture of faraway lands. Paul and Lillian were just one month shy of celebrating their 70th wedding anniversary. Paul was admired, respected, and loved by all. He had an exceptional ability to teach and communicate. He was dedicated to his research and his students and possessed a true zest for life and positive spirit. He challenged and enriched the lives of everyone he met. Paul loved cooking, music, and gardening and used his expertise in these areas to further the joy of life for others. In later years, he directed his boundless energies and channeled his love of growing, developed as a small boy on his family's farm in Georgia, to his yard in Bedford-where springtime blossoms captured his love of life. He loved his family and was a lover of all living things, and had a special fondness for dogs. In addition to his family, he is survived by his saddened and loving companions, Peanut, Buttons and Lexford. He will forever be remembered as a kind and gentle man who had true compassion for all around him. It was a life well lived. Private services will be held at a later date.

Douglass Funeral Service

Lexington (781) 862-1800

www.douglassfh.com