A memorial work is acceptable for 11 a.m. Saturday astatine First Baptist Church of Gadsden for Dr. Lucian Newman Jr., a surgeon successful Gadsden for much than a half-century and a antheral beloved by friends, colleagues and patients.
Newman, 85, labeled “a elephantine of a antheral successful each way” by longtime person Larry Fuhrman, died connected Wednesday astatine his home.
He practiced successful Gadsden for 52 years, from 1968 until his status successful 2020, but near his people connected the assemblage successful different ways.
Newman founded and taught successful the EMS/paramedic programme astatine Gadsden State Community College, and trained galore archetypal responders. The school’s yearly grant fixed to the program’s outstanding pupil is named for him.
He besides served arsenic main of unit astatine some section hospitals, Gadsden Regional Medical Center and Riverview Regional Medical Center; was a patron/sponsor of the arts and outdoor groups; and was an aboriginal protagonist of Westminster (now Westbrook) Christian School, wherever his 3 children and 4 of his grandchildren attended school.
“Dr. Newman treated good implicit 50,000 patients successful his work to our assemblage during his nonrecreational career," said Denten Park, CEO of Gadsden Regional. “His care, his compassion and his kindness person been felt by countless members of our unit and patients.
“He volition beryllium remembered for his exceptional character, his lukewarm kindness and his exceptional aesculapian skills among different things," Park said. "What an unthinkable antheral helium was, and what a fantastic bequest helium leaves behind.”
Gadsden Mayor Craig Ford said, “Lucian was a pillar of our assemblage and a large person to everyone who knew him, including me. In galore ways I considered him a relation model, arsenic helium was a prince of a gentleman. I cognize helium volition beryllium missed deeply.”
Local urologist Dr. John Pirani, GRMC’s main aesculapian officer, said Newman was “a relation exemplary for galore of today’s surgeons,” and orthopedic surgeon Dr. Butch Douthit said helium modeled his signifier aft Newman’s.
“He was the archetypal doc I met erstwhile I came to town,” Douthit said. “He was a large doc who ever took attraction of his patients. He was loved by everyone and was good known successful the community.”
Fuhrman said, “Every diligent of his that I’ve talked to has talked astir however benignant and gentle and caring helium was successful each aspect, not conscionable their carnal situations.”
Friend Mary John Wilson recalled a speech with erstwhile Gadsden Times Editor Howell Talley soon aft moving to Gadsden. “He shared thing I person ever remembered. Howell was friends with a doc who trained Lucian during his residency. He quoted that doctor, speaking of Dr. Newman’s surgical skills, ‘Lucian does it arsenic adjacent cleanable arsenic it tin beryllium done.’
“Some years later, facing beauteous superior country myself,” she recalled, “a subordinate of the pre-op squad assured me, ‘Dr. Newman’s patients ever bash well.’ ”
Newman, lad of a physician, was a autochthonal of Dadeville, wherever his archetypal emotion was showing and judging cows from his family’s farm. Fuhrman said helium inactive enjoyed “getting connected the tractor” astatine his ain farm.
He achieved Eagle Scout fertile successful precocious schoolhouse (he aboriginal served connected the committee of the Choccolocco Council of the Boy Scouts of America), and played trumpet successful the precocious schoolhouse band, often playing taps astatine funerals and, according to his ceremonial listing, greeting friends with early-morning blasts of “Reveille.”
Newman attended the University of Alabama, graduating with honors (including Alpha Omega Alpha membership) successful 1961 from its aesculapian school. After completing his internship astatine University (now UAB) Hospital and his country residency astatine University and Veterans hospitals, helium spent 2 years successful the Public Health Service arsenic main surgeon and work portion manager astatine the Indian infirmary successful Claremont, Oklahoma.
Professionally, helium was a chap and president of the Alabama Chapter of the American College of Surgeons and served arsenic president of the Caduceus Club, the University of Alabama Medical School’s alumni work organization. He was a subordinate of the aesculapian committee of ProAssurance (physician’s liability insurer) and aesculapian manager of Life of Alabama.
The Chamber of Gadsden & Etowah County honored Newman successful 2002 with its Bobby Austin Community Impact Award, presented to “an outstanding assemblage subordinate who has made a difference.”
Newman was a committee subordinate and committee seat astatine Westminster/Westbrook, served connected the school’s committee and arsenic diversion squad doctor.
“The Newmans were portion of Westminster successful the aboriginal years,” said Fuhrman, erstwhile headmaster and inactive a teacher astatine the school. “We developed a relationship with Dr. Newman and Jane that lasted each these years. He was gracious, benignant and supportive of activities astir the school.”
Wilson, the school’s archetypal precocious schoolhouse director, said, “... I tin truthfully say, the Newmans were an integral portion of (Westminster/Westbrook’s) success. In each facet of its development, they were determination — not lone with expertise and encouragement, but besides with clip and hard work.
“They were ever consenting to unfastened their location and stock their resources,” she said. “I retrieve erstwhile a request arose for wealth for a peculiar cause, the Newmans offered to big a fundraising meal for the full school. Never were determination much gracious hosts; connected a precise rainy night, hundreds of radical enjoyed their hospitality.
“Our assemblage has mislaid a large one,” Wilson said.
Newman is survived by his woman of 65 years, Jane Leatherbury Newman, and their children, Jane Newman Williams, Lucian Newman III and Charles Newman, each of whom person continued the household contented arsenic physicians. He besides is survived by 7 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren.
Visitation is acceptable for 9 a.m. Saturday astatine the religion wherever helium was an progressive subordinate and deacon. “He was determination each Sunday unless helium was progressive with country oregon retired of town,” said Fuhrman, who volition behaviour the service.
In lieu of flowers, the household requests donations to Westbrook Christian School oregon the Gadsden Fire Department’s EMS program.
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