February 12, 2023
REST IN PEACE
Mortimer C. Newton passed away on Sunday morning, February 12, at the age of eighty-three, surrounded by his family and his wife, Mary McGann. Mortimer (Mort) was born in 1939 West Warwick to the loud and proud Newton family. In John's Gospel we read that in the beginning there was the Word, and the Word guided Mort throughout his life.
Preceded in death by his parents Mortimer W. and Margaret Newton, brother of Robert D. and sister-in-law Patricia Newton of Charlestown, RI and Wayland, Massachusetts, survived by his sisters Mary Jane Goudreau and her husband Paul of New Jersey, and Margaret Deslaurier and her husband Joseph of Charlestown, RI and his brother-in-law John McGann FSC of Narragansett.
Mort graduated from LaSalle Academy in 1956 and attended Our Lady of Providence Seminary and the University of Leuven, Belgium. In June 1964, Mort was ordained as a priest for the Diocese of Providence. He spent his time in service teaching at Our Lady of Providence High School Seminary and LaSalle Academy, his words bearing durable impact on his students, who for decades could recount his lectures if not always the challenging lesson he was trying to explain. He brought the Living Word to his parish flocks at Saint Catherine's Parish Apponaug, Saint Michael's Providence, Saint Rita's Oakland Beach, and Blessed Sacrament Providence, serving for twenty years in various capacities in the Diocese. His ministry extended beyond the church and into the neighborhoods. He was a founding member of the community organization PACE (People Acting Through Community Effort), which was one of the first grassroots organizations in Rhode Island.
Inspired by the impact the word of law had on people, Mort graduated from the Boston College Law School in 1977 and began a forty-five-year law career as part of a small group of extremely dedicated attorneys. Mort brought his words to the aid of multiple nonprofits, including Ocean Tides, West Bay Residential Services Inc., Amos House, Macaulay House, and The Fund for Community Progress, among others. Mort cherished using the word for those in need. He was recognized for this service with the Lohmann Community Service award and the Pro Bono Publico Award. He was an Adjunct Professor of Criminal Procedure in the Salve Regina Criminal Justice Division and enjoyed teaching mostly police officers seeking advanced degrees. In later years he served two terms on the board of the Character and Fitness Committee for the Rhode Island Supreme Court.
Mort was a history buff interested in political scenes local and international. He liked pottering in the garden, planting flowers, tomatoes and seasonal vegetables. He loved the sounds of the ocean, walking the beach, piloting a skiff around the bay in Charlestown and watching the Red Sox, Celtics and Patriots games with his brother Bob. Mort especially enjoyed and looked forward to meeting old friends at Louvain reunions, Boston College reunions and his monthly lunch get together with the guys.
Mort was treasured by those fortunate enough to call him a friend, brother, an uncle, and a great-uncle. He was a devoted and loving husband to Mary, his wife of nearly forty years. Mort and Mary, whom he called "Maarah," traveled the world with family and friends. With his ever-present camera around his neck, he meticulously documented every trip to share when he returned home. Although he often declared that children only became interesting once they learned to ride a bike, he has a devoted following of nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews, who built shrines to Mort's kindness, guidance, and words within their hearts. Mort's devotion to the Word brought happiness, justice, peace, and love to countless people who were lucky enough to know him. He and his words will be eternally missed.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated on Saturday, February 18, 2023 at 9:00AM at St. Gregory the Great Parish, 360 Cowesett Rd. Warwick. Interment will follow at St. Francis Cemetery, Pawtucket. Visitation will be held on Friday, February 17, 2023 from 4:00PM-7:00PM at THE URQUHART-MURPHY FUNERAL HOME, 800 Greenwich Avenue, Warwick.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to a charity of one's choosing are greatly appreciated.