Name: Viewing for LAWRENCE QUINCY NEWTON
Start: 2019-06-21T22:00:00.000Z
End: 2019-06-22T00:00:00.000Z
Location: DeVol Funeral Home - Gaithersburg

Lawrence Newton
Lawrence Quincy Newton (aka Nguyen Quoc Lap), born February 6, 1946 in Hue, Vietnam, died on June 10, 2019 in Gaithersburg, USA, of sudden cardiac arrest. Trained in political science and economics in New Zealand (Canterbury University and Wellington University), he taught briefly at Hue University before he was drafted in the Army of the Republic of South Vietnam (ARVN). He was commissioned as a first lieutenant in the ARVN after officer training at the Officer Cadet School of Australia in Portsea, Victoria. Appointed Lecturer in Political Science at the South Vietnam's Dalat Military Academy, he served there until South Vietnam fell to the communists in 1975. He spent the next six years in various communist concentration camps. Released in 1981, he escaped by boat to Indonesia taking with him two nephews and two nieces. They emigrated to the US as refugees in 1983. Resettled in New Jersey, Mr. Newton earned a doctorate in Economics at Rutgers University, taught briefly there, then worked at Fannie Mae until his retirement in 2008. He left behind a wife of 22 years, Cam Ha, M.D., Ph.D., six brothers and sisters and numerous nephews and nieces. Friends and relatives may call at DeVol Funeral Home, 10 East Deer Park Drive, Gaithersburg, MD from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday, June 21, 2019. They can also participate, per his wishes, in a non-religious commemorative service at the same location on the next day, Saturday June 22, 2019 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Cremation will be in Alexandria, VA. Please sign the family guest book at:www.DeVolFuneralHome.com

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Published by The Washington Post on Jun. 17, 2019.

Memories and Condolences
for LAWRENCE NEWTON

13 Entries

Megan Quan

June 13, 2020

To my dear Bac Lap,
It has been a year since you've gone, and so much has happened. So many wonderful opportunities in the literary arts, the field you've always encouraged me in, have come my way. I submitted my first writing piece in a competition, worked on my poetry, and got the chance to deliver a speech for my 8th grade graduation! I feel that you might be proud of how my English skills have grown. I've also taken up money origami and gardening two pineapple plants along with a corn plant. I miss you very, very, very much Bac Lap. Stealing sugar cubes from your glass jar isn't as fun without you catching me. I miss our trivial conversations and jokes, strolls through your garden, sharing our love for knowledge and nature, and so much more. Missing you every day, and keeping all of our precious memories, letters, and books close to my heart.
- Megan Quan

Sydney Quan

June 13, 2020

Hi Bac Lap,
I am writing this from your back porch and we are eating ice cream remembering you. Its been a year and we all miss you very much! I am helping myself to your book collection, hoping that's okay with you. I ate some bread and jam this morning and also thought of you, breakfast here gets a little boring without mini pancakes and good baguettes. Miss you everyday and I will be sure to write you again next year.
Love Sydney

Trinh Nguyen-mau

July 8, 2019

We missed an extraordinary intellectual person, citizen, friend, soldier....

Hien Le

June 23, 2019

Remarks from the Representative of the Ex- Colombo Plan students in New Zealand

Mr. Nguyễn Danh Mike Hải
(Written by Hien Le, Delivered by Mike Hải)

Good morning everyone. My name is Mike Nguyen. It's my honor to be here today to represent the Ex- Colombo Plan students in New Zealand to say goodbye to Mr Nguyen Quoc Lap aka Lawrence Quincy Newton.

I had the privilege of knowing Lawrence since these early college days, and also throughout his years in the Washington DC area.

These are what I most remember of him.

He was a first rate intellectual. He has a deep knowledge and appreciation for the arts, including the art or war, and above all, the art of living well. He earned academic degrees galore, five, I think. He was commissioned as an officer in the Army of the Republic of Vietnam after graduation from cadet training at the famed Australian Officer Cadet School in Portsea, Victoria. He painted. The OCS Portsea actually gave him first prize for his Military Arts painting submissions. He collected and read over the years a sizeable set of books on arts, history, and music. He listened to mostly classical music: Beethoven, Bach, Mozart, Mendelssohn. And he appreciated a good bottle of wine over the incredibly good meals that his wife Cam Ha cooked, with his help of course.

He was a devoted family man. He brought along nieces and nephews during his escape from Vietnam by boat to Indonesia. He paid for their education here in the United States. He supported his sisters and their family after they emigrated to the US until they could stand on their own feet. He helped his beloved wife, Cam Ha applied to and subsequently earned a doctorate from the Uniformed Services University in the Health Science Program in Molecular and cell biology.

He was a deeply humble man. In the years since I know him, I never hear him talk about his academic and professional achievement. He would rather take care of his flowers than get into pointless disputes. And I have yet to hear him say one bad thing about anyone.

I got the news about his passing via a friend's phone call. He had a sudden cardiac arrest when caring for his flower beds in his front yard. Grief filled my heart. And yet, through the tears that I could barely contain, I see in his passing beauty and peace, and the amazing grace of a most compassionate Creator. We all would be infinitely fortunate to have as our last glimpse of this earth the blooming flowers he was tending.

In conclusion, let me extend, again, my deepest condolences to Mrs. Newton and the Nguyễn Quốc Family. May you all have the strength to move forward in the days ahead.

And fare thee well, Lawrence. I am so privileged and so humbled to have known you. Yours is a noble soul, a true prince's soul, the like of which is very rarely seen on this wretched Earth.

Adrian Jackson

June 21, 2019

A very productive but at times turbulent life in Vietnam, New Zealand, Australia, Indonesia and America. He was the editor of the class year book at OCS Portsea (which closed in 1985).

Ian Robinson

June 21, 2019

"Lappy" as he was affectionatly known as, was highly regarded by everyone at Portsea. He was always the gentleman, very wise and was a pleasure to have known Lappy. Very sad, he endured significant hardship. RIP mate Robbo

Graham McHaffie

June 20, 2019

From our army officer training days, I remember a good and gentle man who helped us through the rigours of military training with his calm and thoughtful manner. A sad day.

This Country of Mine is Forever Condemned

Robert Fry

June 20, 2019

This is the second entry for Nguyen Quoc Lap from his time at OCS, Portsea; it is what he wrote on 27 May 73 and published in our Journal. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.

June 18, 2019

My condolences to the family for the loss of your dear loved one. Everything your loved one was...kind, loving and thoughtful will live in the hearts and memories of those that loved them. May these memories comfort you during your grieving process.

June 17, 2019

Psalm 90:10 says that the days of our years are 70 years, And if because of special mightiness they are 80 years.
May the memories of the wonderful times you shared together bring a smile and joy in your heart.

June 17, 2019

Grief can be so very hard, but our special memories can help us to cope. Remember them today and always. 1 Corinthians 15:26.

BM

S F

June 16, 2019

I am so sorry for your loss. May God strengthen your family at this time. Ps. 119:28.

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