Newton integral to UNO ‘firsts’ – Omaha World

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John M. "Jack" Newton, a psychology professor, served as dean of the UNO College of Arts and Sciences for 20 years. Newton, 82, died last week.

By Susan Szalewski
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER


John M. "Jack" Newton arrived at the University of Omaha to teach psychology in 1960.

The psychology professor soon became an administrator, and the school turned into the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

Newton helped the growing university develop its first doctoral program, in psychology. He also had a part in creating UNO's renowned programs in international studies and in information science and technology. He earned respect by holding one of the toughest administration jobs, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, for 20 years and serving as an adviser in numerous developments for the university, said former UNO Chancellor Del Weber.

Newton died Wednesday at an Omaha care center, where he had spent months being treated for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as ALS and Lou Gehrig's disease, said his wife, Ann Newton. He was 82.

A vigil service will be held at 7 p.m. Monday at the Heafey-Heafey-Hoffmann Dworak-Cutler West Center Chapel, at 7805 West Center Road. A funeral Mass is planned for 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church at 6116 Dodge St.

Newton was born and raised in Schenectady, N.Y., and earned a bachelor's degree at Union College in New York and master's and doctoral degrees at Ohio State University. Newton met his wife of 57 years at Ohio State, where she had been a student in his class.

After earning his degrees, Newton worked in the Army and at a private contractor to help design controls on nuclear submarines and other equipment. His job was to take human factors into consideration to make the controls efficient in a variety of conditions, said Newton's son, Peter Newton of Austin, Texas.

But after several years, Jack Newton was offered the teaching position at the municipal University of Omaha.

"His real love was teaching," his wife said. "He fell in love with Omaha and UNO, and we never left."

Even when he was a dean, Newton tried to teach a course each semester, Ann Newton said. He served as an interim vice chancellor for academic affairs and returned to a teaching post before retiring.

Newton remained a student, too, taking classes whenever he got the chance. He loved traveling and took Omaha students abroad and international students on local trips, his wife said. Newton went to Afghanistan and Pakistan with Thomas Gouttierre, dean of International Studies and Programs at UNO and director of its Center for Afghanistan Studies. It was Newton who helped Gouttierre start the international studies program.

Newton served on many task forces and committees at UNO, including the one that conceptualized the College of Information Science and Technology, Weber said.

"He (Newton) was on the search committee when I was hired," the former chancellor said.

Other survivors include daughter Tricia McCauley of Fayetteville, Ark., son Christopher Newton of Papillion and five grandchildren.

Contact the writer:

402-444-1304, news@owh.com

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