Gary Newtson

Gary L. Newtson (Newt) passed away on September 20, 2024. He was born March 27, 1935 in Danville, Illinois to Laurence and Nadine Newtson.Newt was preceded in death by his first wife, Sally, in 1983 and brother, Richard, in 1978.Surviving Newt is his wife Ruth whom he met in 1986 and married in 1987. They resided in Kalamazoo, MI and traveled extensively after retirement during the summers visiting friends and various vacation destinations. They spent many winters in their LaQuinta, CA condo where they enjoyed warmth, golf, and many friends. Also surviving Newt are his daughters; Judith (David) Coltman and Elizabeth (Richard) Murrell; grandson; Andrew (Anne) Coltman; great-grandchildren; Ellie and Theo Coltman; grandson; Jeffrey (Brittany Kappel) Coltman and their son Romilly.Newt graduated from Danville High School and earned his Bachelor's Degree in General Engineering at the University of Illinois. He then began his 43-year career in patent law, as a Patent Examiner in the U.S. Patent Office in Washington D.C. He did this while attending night law school at the Washington College of Law of the American University. After receiving his J.D. in law in 1960, Newt joined the patent law firm of Koenig and Pope in St. Louis, MO. In 1966 he accepted a position in the Patent Department at Chrysler Corporation in Detroit, MI. In 1980 he was appointed Chief Patent Counsel of Chrysler which he retired from and went on to become partner in the law firm of Harness, Dickey & Pierce. Newt continued to represent Chrysler and other companies in patent, trademark and copyright law until his retirement from active practice in 2000. During his career, Newt was active in bar associations, serving as President of the Michigan Patent Law Association (1977-78), serving on the Board of Directors of the Association of Corporate Patent Counsel (1989-1990), and serving on the Board of Directors of the American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA). Newt served on the Executive Committee of the AIPLA from 1990-1995 and as President of the AIPLA in 1993-1994. Newt also testified before the Judiciary Committee of the United States Senate on behalf of Chrysler and again the AIPLA. Academically, Newt was named Distinguished Alumni by the University of Illinois General Engineering Society in 1981. He also served on the Alumni Advisory Board for the General Engineering Department at the U. of Ill. and participated in the Engineer in Resident speaker series from 1998-2011.While his two daughters, Judith Coltman of Hilton Head, South Carolina and Elizabeth Murrell of Rapid City, Ml were growing up, Newt was active in the PTA in their grade school. He enjoyed sports activities and traveling with his wife Sally (deceased 1983) and his two daughters on numerous vacations. Newt also enjoyed community theater and participated in numerous stage plays in St. Louis, MO. and, after retiring, in South Haven MI both as an actor and in the business aspects of stage productions. One of his particular theatrical enjoyments was lip-syncing to old Spike Jones recordings and stand-up comedy. Newt was a finalist in the 2005 Coachella Valley (California) Talent Contest and in the 2010 Celery City Talent Contest in Portage, MI.A private service will be held for immediate family.Those wishing to leave as online condolence may do so at: www.starksfamilyfh.com.Arrangements have been entrusted to Filbrandt Chapel - Starks Family Funeral Homes and Cremation Services in South Haven. 269-637-0333