Eugene R. Newberry

Newberry, Eugene "Gene" Robert, born April 2, 1931, died August 19, 2024 at home surrounded by family. Preceded in death by mother and stepfather, Ruth and Joe Beddow, and many friends.

Gene grew up in Danville, IL. At age 14, he began working at the soda fountain at Carson’s Pharmacy and found a mentor in the owner, Ben Carson. With Mr. Carson’s encouragement, Gene attended the University of Illinois, Chicago Pharmacy School and apprenticed at Zehender & Factor Pharmacy in Oak Park, IL. After graduation he was drafted into the Army and stationed at Bremerhaven, Germany, where he met his future wife, Louisa. After returning to the States, they married and lived in Danville where Gene worked for Carson’s.

In 1963 the family moved to Oak Park when Gene accepted a job at Zehender’s. He and another colleague bought the pharmacy in 1970. Gene later became the sole owner until it closed in1998. He employed many students from Oak Park River Forest High School. The Chicago New City arts weekly called the business “the best small pharmacy” in the Chicago area.

Gene was a member of the Oak Park Rotary Club and served as the 1976-77 President. He co-founded the 200 S. Taylor block party--one of the longest continuously running annual block parties in Oak Park--and helped plan it for 48 years.

A diehard Cubs fan, he was jubilant when they gave him a World Series win in his lifetime. He relished travel, visiting 32 countries, and camping with his family across the U.S. He loved Christmas—putting up the tree and a huge wreath on the porch, decorating the house, playing Christmas music, and making ten kinds of candy.

Family was everything to Gene. He was loved and will be dearly missed by Louisa, his wife of 67 years; children and their spouses Liz (Lou Ehasz), Carolyn (David Schwartz), Tom (Patti), Sam (Barbara Leutz), and John (Patty); grandchildren Will, Nat, Sylvie, Kevin, Lauren, Brian, Jacob and Jacquelyn; and great granddaughter London.

In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to the National Parks Foundation.