John Austin Newton Jr.

At 90 years young, John Austin Newton Jr., passed away on January 27, 2025. John was born on December 15 in Mineola, New York to John and Genevieve Newton.

John lived a life of selfless service. He served in the US Marine Corp during the Korean War and played the trumpet in the Marine Corp Band. Between firefighting and policing, John dedicated the next 30 years of his life as a first responder. He volunteered for the Hempstead Fire Department and was a proud member of the Hempstead Fire Department Flukes Drill team and retired in 1988 as a detective from the 4th Precinct for the Suffolk County Police Department. In addition to his policeman’s duties, he was a member of  the ceremonial unit playing taps at funerals for police officers both active and retired who passed away. He also served on the board of the Suffolk County Police Conference as Financial Secretary which was comprised of law enforcement officers within the entire county of Suffolk. He  was also a member of the Suffolk County Police Pulaski Association. Along with these honorable services, John graduated from Suffolk County Community College with an Associate’s Degree in Police Science.

John dedicated his life to his faith and his family. He is survived by his wife, Betty, of 66 years and his daughters, Deborah (Mark), Joanne (Sal), his sons, John (Sarah), James (Donna), 10 grandchildren, 5 great grandchildren along with many nieces and nephews.

Since retirement, John and Betty moved to Fort Myers, Florida where they enjoyed golfing, traveling, bowling, and wood working.

John was an avid volunteer working on houses for the Habitat for Humanity, providing and delivering meals for the homeless and the poor, serving on numerous committees at Christ Lutheran Church and being a Lamplighter for the Thrivent Association.

John is preceded in death by his parents, John and Genevieve Newton, his brother, Austin Wesley Newton and his sister, Elizabeth Gottschalk and son-in-law, Mark Comneck.

John will be cremated by Gallaher American Funeral Home in Fort Myers, Florida. Funeral services will be held at Messiah Lutheran Church on February 15, 2025 at 11:00 am. He will be laid to rest at a later date in Calverton, New York.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Phoenix Fund at Christ Lutheran Church, P. O. Box 152576 in Cape Coral, Florida 33915.