Robert W. Newlin

1934 - 2025

Robert W. Newlin

January 6, 1934 - October 13, 2025

Robert W. "Bob" Newlin, 91, passed away peacefully in Frederick, Maryland, on October 13, 2025. Before moving to Frederick in 2004, he and his family were residents of Damascus, Maryland, for more than 40 years. Bob was preceded in death by Kay Newlin, his loving wife of 57 years who passed away in 2013. He is survived by Colleen Patrick-Newlin, his wonderful wife and caregiver during his final years. He is also survived by his son Ron of Frederick, his daughter and son-in-law Tammie and Paul Bourdeau of Milton, Delaware, and his daughter and son-in-law Connie and Brad Brautigam of Doylestown, Pennsylvania. In addition, he is survived by seven grandsons - Scott, Matthew (Sarah), and Andrew Bourdeau, and Cory (Rithika), Tyler (Abigail), Justin (Ellie), and Luke (Shannon) Brautigam - and five great-grandchildren - Robert and Madelyn Bourdeau, and Bradley, Finley, and Benjamin Brautigam. Bob is also survived by two sisters, Mary Meyer of Spokane, Washington, and Carol (John) Scoville of Lacey, Washington.

Born in Lewistown, Montana on January 6, 1934, Bob was the sixth of nine children of the late Darlis and Esther Newlin. He spent the first 10 years of his life in the wheat farming community of Coffee Creek, Montana, before the family moved 50 miles away to Lewistown. Bob had already started working on the farm of the late Rudy Nemec in Coffee Creek by the time he was 8 years old and he continued to return to this "second home" every summer for the next 15 years. His job on the farm helped him pay his way through college at the University of Montana in Missoula.

In his youth, Bob was active in 4-H and Boy Scouts. He was the Student Body President in both junior high and high school. In high school, he was also the editor of the school newspaper, played football and basketball, and won a state award in track and field. He was the Valedictorian of the Class of 1951 at Fergus County High School in Lewistown. In college at the University of Montana, Bob was elected class delegate to the Student Governing Body in each of his first three years. In his senior year, he was selected to be Editor of the campus daily newspaper and was named as the 1955 Outstanding Male Graduate of the Journalism School.

During his time in college, Bob had also been involved in Air Force ROTC and, after college, he entered the Air Force flight training program and became an F-86 jet fighter pilot. In his Primary Flight Training Class, he was selected as the Outstanding Student Officer based on his flight performance and academic standing. Upon completion of flight training, Bob was assigned to an Interceptor Squadron in Okinawa, Japan.

In 1958, Bob and Kay, his wife and college sweetheart, returned from Okinawa and he left the Air Force to start a career in journalism. They first moved to California where he became a reporter for the Hollywood Citizen News, which was followed by a move to Lynden, Washington where he became the Editor of the Lynden Tribune. He was then hired as a Public Relations Specialist with General Electric, where he worked at U.S. nuclear facilities in Richland, Washington, and Idaho Falls, Idaho. In 1961, he accepted a position with the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) in Idaho Falls and, in 1962, he was transferred to AEC headquarters in Washington, D.C., where he moved up to the position of Assistant to the Director of Public Affairs. Among other assignments during his AEC years, Bob worked in the press office of the United Nations in New York City during a 10-day conference on radiation protection, and he was in charge of the U.S. press room for the month-long International Atoms for Peace Conference in Geneva, Switzerland.

By 1975, the AEC had been combined with other government-related energy functions into the new Energy Research and Development Administration (ERDA). Bob became the Acting Director of Public Affairs during the startup phase of ERDA and then became Assistant Director. In 1977, ERDA was merged into a new Cabinet-level Department of Energy (DOE) and, as legislation went through Congress during that process, Bob became part of the Senior Executive Service and he was assigned to the White House Office of Energy Policy and Planning to deal with public and press issues related to energy matters. He later served on two White House Committees, one related to public affairs coordination among federal agencies during President Carter's years and the other related to President Reagan's national program to foster private sector volunteer efforts (Operation Care and Share).

In 1980, Bob and Kay moved back out West for a couple years when Bob took the position of Assistant Manager of External Affairs with the Department of Energy's Richland (WA) Operations. They then returned to the Washington, D.C., area in 1982 where he joined the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission as Deputy Director of the Office of Public Affairs, a position he held until his retirement in 1994. Although Bob had retired, he continued to take on consulting work, including projects for developing Public Information Plans in the event of nuclear plant emergencies in the U.S., Egypt, and Brazil.

Outside of work, Bob was always very active in taking on leadership roles in community and church activities. In his younger years in Idaho, he was an officer in the Jaycees civic organization for young men, where he took the lead in organizing a local group that helped high school students gain business training by actually operating small corporations under the guidance of local business leaders. When Bob and his family moved East in 1962, they settled in Damascus, Maryland, and he quickly became involved in community activities there. Bob became the founder and first president of the Damascus Jaycees. He also helped to launch a newspaper, the Damascus Courier, and became news editor for its first year. He was a founder and Commissioner of the first organized youth football league in Damascus (Damascus did not have a high school football program at the time and many of the players from this league went on to become the stars of the early years of Damascus High School Football, which has gone on to become a record-setting program). He also coached Little League Baseball and Youth Basketball. He was a PTA officer for Damascus Elementary School and Baker Middle School, and an officer in the Damascus High School Sports Booster Club. In 1966, Bob was named the Damascus area's Outstanding Young Man of the Year by a panel of civic leaders in the community. In the 1970s, Bob became active in the Damascus Lions Club and was its President in 1990-1991. Over the years, he received many Lions Club honors, including being named Lion of the Year and being placed on the Lions District Honor Roll for outstanding extended service to club and community.

Bob was also extensively involved in activities with the Damascus United Methodist Church for many years. At various times, he taught Sunday School classes for sixth graders through adults. He chaired many church committees over the years and was a lay leader and delegate to the Church's Baltimore-Washington Conference for several years. In the 1960s, he was also a lay speaker substituting for pastors in other communities when they were away. In addition, he was a leader of the church social groups Young Adult and Young at Heart for over 50 years.

Bob was known for his speaking skills and, over the years, he acted as the Master of Ceremonies for many church and community events in Damascus. In addition, after years of being involved with civic and church groups in activities to make Christmas better for families in need, Bob started a Good Neighbor Program under which volunteer families in Damascus would stay in touch with one family in need throughout each year. And in 2009, when Bob's wife, Kay, was in the Frederick Homewood Healthcare Center with Parkinson's Disease, Bob became the first Chairman of a Family Council established to be the advocates for residents who could not speak for themselves.

Bob was loved by everyone who met him. He always had a sparkle in his eye and a great sense of humor. And he was a kind and caring man who loved helping others. He will be greatly missed by all of his family and friends.

Funeral services will be held at 11 am, on Saturday, October 18, 2025, at the Damascus United Methodist Church, 9700 New Church St., Damascus, Maryland 20872, followed by burial in the church cemetery and a luncheon. The funeral will be preceded by a viewing at the church at 10 am.

Online condolences may be shared with Bob's family on our website at www.molesworthwilliams.com.