Robert G. Newman

Robert G. Newman 1912 - 2009 PITTSFIELD Robert George Newman, Chief Librarian at the Berkshire Athenaeum in Pittsfield from 1946 to 1981, died Sunday, April 26, at Kimball Farms in Lenox, where he had residied since 1998. Born in Garden City, N.Y., on June 25, 1912, he was the son of George A. and Rosetta Goldstone Newman. A fourth generation Newman Berkshire County resident, he was a descendant of Koseph R. Newman who emigrated from Germany in the early 19th century and was a founding member, in November 1869, of Society (Temple) Anshe Amunim. Robert Newman's great-grandfather was a tailor who traveled to various farms and towns in the Berkshires and Robert's grandfather established the clothing store, J.R. Newman & Sons, at the present site of Legacy Bank Building on North Street. All the Newman Family generations have been active in the Jewish community of the Berkshires. Robert was a 1929 graduate of Pittsfield High School and earned a bachelor's degree cum laude from Dartmouth College in 1934, a master's degree in English literature from Harvard University in 1935 and a bachelor's degree in library science from Columbia University in 1946. He enlisted in the Army three days after Pearl Harbor, became an officer in March, 1943, primarily served as Chief of the Military Personnel Branch at Camp Edward, and was discharged in March, 1946, with the rank of Captain. He was President of the Reserve Officer's Association of Berkshire County. Mr. Newman was employed by the Berkshire Athenaeum in various positions from 1935-1941 and returned, following his military service, to the position of chief librarian. During his tenure he led the fight for the new Berkshire Athenaeum as the needs of the community outgrew the facilities of its old building. The new facility opened for business on Sept. 4, 1975, and the auditorium in the building has been named in Mr. Newman's honor. He had been Librarian Emeritus of the Athenaeum since 1981, was President of the Massachusetts Library Association, President of the Western Massachusetts Library Club and a member of the American Library Associatioin and the New England Library Association. He was on the Advisory Council and Executive Committee of The Western Massachusetts Regional Public Library system. He was President of the Melville Society and an author of various articles in learned publications about Herman Melville. Active in supporting the Pittsfield Community, he was Trustee and Clerk of City Savings Bank, Trustee and Secretary of Hancock Shaker Village, Corporator and member of the Board of Governors Berkshire Medical Center and Trustee, St. Luke's Hospital. He was chairman of the Pittsfield School Buildings Survey Commission, a member of the Pittsfield Community Schools Commission, Chairman of the Pittsfield City History Commission, Clerk of the Pittsfield World War II Honor Roll Commission, and a member of the Board of Directors of the Berkshire County Historical Society. He was a former board member of the Rotary Club of Pittsfield with which he was associated for 53 years. He was a board member of the Coolidge Hill School, a Director of the Automobile Club of Berkshire County, a Mason, 32nd Degree, and a member of the Monday Evening Club since 1946. Robert Newman was a Temple Board member and the official historian of Temple Anshe Amunim, a member of the Rabbi's Isabella Kelm Scholarship Advisory Committee and the Temple's "1972 Man of the Year." He leaves his cousins in California and France, as well as many friends and colleagues in Pittsfield and throughout the world. FUNERAL NOTICE: At his request, there will be no calling hours or memorial days. Funeral services will be held at Temple Anshe Amunim, 24 Broad St., on Friday, May 1, 2009, at 1:30 p.m. Burial will follow in Pittsfield Cemetery. WELLINGTON FUNERAL HOME, 220 East St., Pittsfield, MA 01201, is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Temple Anshe Amunim, 24 Broad St., Pittsfield, MA 01201 or the Berkshire Athenaeum, 11 Wendell Ave., Pittsfield, MA 01201.