Obituary of Willis Robert Newman

Willis Robert Newman, 84, of Cortland NY, died June 7, 2014. Willis Newman was the son of Willis Merwin Newman and Alpha Blankshine Newman and loving husband for 56 years to Jane Newman. He died in Cortland Regional Hospital of a heart and lung condition. He is predeceased by his parents and his brother Roger. He is survived by his wife Jane; three sisters: Betty, Lois, and Ruth; four sons: Willis Brian, Karl, Robert, and Matthew; nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Willis served in the U.S. Army in Japan from 1946 to 1949. He earned a Ph.D. from Cornell University in science education, vertebrate biology, and ecology. He was a professor of Biology at SUNY Cortland from 1958, serving as department chair from 1988, until his retirement in 1991. He also coordinated the college's secondary science education programs and supervised student teachers. He was instrumental in setting up a program for teachers to earn a Master of Science in Education and Master of Arts in Teaching. He was involved in the development of a campus academic program providing an environmental emphasis for majors in biology, chemistry, geology and physics. At that time he was also involved with the Environmental Management Council of Cortland County, which he chaired for a time. Willis loved time with his wife and family, the outdoors and bird watching, RC modelling, and singing in the Barnstormers men's choir and the church choir. A memorial service and celebration of his life will be held later this summer. In lieu of flowers, please send contributions in his name to SUNY Cortland General Scholarship Fund.