Kenneth S. Newberry

12/19/1945 - 11/14/2023

Kenneth S. Newberry, 77, of Wallingford, CT, passed away on Nov. 14, 2023 in Pascoag, R.I., after a prolonged illness. No formal services were held at Ken's request, though his family has honored him by spreading his ashes in an idyllic wooded spot befitting his poet's heart.

Ken was born in St. Louis, MO, to Phyllis (Brown) Newberry and William H.C. Newberry on December 19, 1945, the youngest brother of three. The family moved from Alton, IL, to West Haven, CT, when Ken was eight. They were welcomed to the area by Hurricane Carol, one of the worst hurricanes New England experienced in the 20th century. Despite the ominous beginning, Ken called Connecticut home for most of his life.

Ken graduated from West Haven High School in 1964, where he met his future wife Aileen (Chapin) Newberry. The two attended senior prom as friends, but their relationship deepened when Ken enlisted into the U.S. Army. He and Aileen were married on Aug. 8, 1970 and spent 53 years together.

One of Ken's friends once remarked that he was the only man he knew who went to Vietnam and came back a better person. Though like all veterans Ken survived scarring experiences in the war, he was remarkably well-adjusted and clear-eyed about his service. Inheriting a love of words from his father, he penned poetry and a memoir about his time in Vietnam, and was an active member and officer of the Major Raoul Lufbery VFW Post 591 in Wallingford.

Ken was awarded a Bronze Star for his work in military intelligence after his anticipation of a Viet Cong ambush saved many American lives.

After being discharged from the Army, Ken graduated with a BA from the University of Connecticut in 1972. He worked as an underwriter for Aetna Insurance for 25 years, and later moved to Anthem Blue Cross until retirement.

He and Aileen called Wallingford home for most of their married life. They welcomed their only child, Brian C. Newberry, in 1971. Above all else, Ken was a devoted husband, father and grandfather. He was an enthusiastic coach of youth soccer for the Wallingford league during Brian's playing years, and had an endless supply of energy for his grandchildren's games and passions.

In addition to poetry, Ken carried on his father's love of chess. He was a lifetime member of the U.S. Chess Federation, and played tournaments as a Class A player when he had the time to devote to it. His competitive peak came in 1988, when he took First Place in the U.S Amateur Chess Championship Classic Section.

Ken spent many happy years with Aileen in the house they built on picturesque Peach Hill Drive. After retirement, he indulged in his hobbies and interests, spending more time on his poetry and unwinding on the golf course. Over the past decade, he struggled with the effects of Parkinson's Disease, and saw rapid decline during the difficult years of the coronavirus pandemic. Through all of the hard times, however, he was an unfailingly kind and warm light to his family. Though we miss him deeply, we are glad to see his soul set free from the cruel challenges of Parkinson's.

Ken is predeceased by his father William H.C. Newberry, mother Phyllis Newberry, and brothers Eric and Alan Newberry. He is survived by wife Aileen Newberry, son Brian Newberry, daughter-in-law Elizabeth Newberry, and three grandchildren Diane Newberry, Liam Newberry and Aidan Newberry.

Mark Twain said, "Let us endeavor so to live that when we come to die even the undertaker will be sorry." Ken certainly followed his favorite author's advice.