Name: Celebration of Life for Alan Kenneth Newcomb
Start: 2024-01-20T19:00:00.000Z
End: 2024-01-20T22:00:00.000Z
Location: Cambrian Park

Alan Kenneth Newcomb (known as Ken) passed away December 27, 2023 after suffering a series of strokes. Ken was born in Spokane, WA on July 23, 1936 to WK and Grace Newcomb. He grew up in Spokane, Yakima and Seattle, WA along with his brother Duane.Ken graduated from Roosevelt High School in Seattle in 1954. He attended the University of Washington where he graduated in 1958. He met his wife Janet in Mount Vernon, WA and they were married in Burlington, WA in 1959. Their first son Terry was born in 1960. Later in 1960 they moved to San Jose, CA where their son Chris was born in 1961 and then Mark in 1966.Ken worked with his father at the Los Gatos Firestone for several years before getting his teaching credential. He taught 6th grade at Blossom Hill Elementary where he directed his classes in a yearly melodrama before moving on to teach at Fisher Junior High School where he also coached volleyball, basketball and soccer. His students remember him as a very enthusiastic and inspiring teacher and coach.Ken and Janet were charter members of Saint Timothy's Lutheran Church in 1962.Ken enjoyed bowling, softball, golfing, ping pong, playing basketball and was an avid gardener and sports fan. He took his family on many memorable camping, fishing and backpacking trips.Ken was loved and is remembered fondly by his sons and eleven grandkids, Trevor, Rowan, Lauren, Will, Seamus, Griffin, Elizabeth Rose, Alex, Allison, Eowyn and Elizabeth Grace, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.Ken's life will be celebrated with an open house at the family home in Cambrian Park on Saturday, January 20th from 11:00AM to 2:00PM. Friends and family are invited to stop by and share their remembrances of Ken.

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Published by Mercury News on Jan. 14, 2024.

Memories and Condolences
for Alan Newcomb

Sponsored by San Jose Mercury News.

6 Entries

Anne Drahmann

May 26, 2024

Mr. Newcomb was my sixth grade teacher. He made a huge impression on my life during that year. I remember how much fun we had from projects like a salt dough map, a lot of P.E, the class melodrama including a trip to see one at a local theater, how he let us turn the room into a haunted house at Halloween, and his wonderful way of teaching that included everyone and all our learning styles. I also remember his stare that was all it took to get any student back to work. I'm a sixth grade teacher now, and every year I tell my students stories about my sixth grade class and Mr. Newcomb. He left a legacy in many ways, and I am thankful to have known him.

CeCe

January 16, 2024

Mr Newcomb was my 6th grade teacher at Blossom Hill Elementary. He was very kindhearted and a great motivator/confidence booster to a kid like me that lacked both those qualities! My sincere condolences to his family.

Rob Siderine

January 14, 2024

Very sad to here my 6th grade teacher Ken Newcomb passed away. Mr Newcomb was a true inspiration- a fine and engaging instructor; a wonderful basketball player (I can still see him practicing his hook shot); director of the annual melodrama; and friend of entertainers and sportsmen many of whom would come to visit our class. He was such an encourager of youth.You might find the SJ Earthquakes with Johnny Moore on one day and Chris Carey and his one man show on another. He almost got Mel Blanc to come! His stories were rich as was his character. I have often fondly thought of him over the years. My sincerest condolences to his family. May he rest in peace.

Paul K Redd

January 14, 2024

The Newcomb house was grand central station for the soccer gang. I visited their home many times after school or weekends, and always felt welcome there. Ken filled in where we needed him in league play and was always a solid adult to keep us from getting too far out of line. It does take a village, and Ken was part of a solid foundation of my village. Well done. Thanks.

Jeanne-Marie Rachlin

January 14, 2024

Dear Family of Ken,

I was sad to see Ken's obituary in today's Mercury News. He was my colleague at Fisher Junior High back in the 70s and 80s. I recall very well how we brought him up from Blossom Hill to teach math with us. He was a kind, decent, dedicated teacher who was equally liked by students and teachers. I can only imagine how much he will be missed by his family members. Please accept my sincerest condolences.

Elaine Gundunas Petrakis

January 13, 2024

I have many fun and fond memories of Mr Newcomb. He was a lot of fun, loved his students and had a great sense of humor.
One thing I often remember, is joking around with him and tying his big, white tennis-shoes together under his desk (he caught me pretty much every time and laughed).
I also remember him bringing his handsome sons to class a few times, and all the girls going crazy. He was so proud of his boys!
He made learning fun by making things interactive, especially science. I can clearly remember this tall, kind teacher with his big, happy smile, as he showed us electrical current, creating a huge bolt between two large, metal balls, and also another time when he made a peanut butter and jelly sandwich based on our instruction, as though he was an alien and had never made one before.
It's funny the small little things that leave an impression or memory for a child that lasts a lifetime! I was blessed to have him as a teacher and his family was especially blessed to have him for the years that they did. He stewarded his gifts well and no doubt left the world a better place.
May his memory be eternal.

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