By Sophia Chang
Newton, who had retired last year as a district office manager for state Sen. Frank Padavan (R-Bellerose), may have died of a massive coronary, her family said.
The effects of her lifetime of community work in fund-raising and administration can be felt throughout eastern Queens.
Born in Flushing, Newton attended Bayside High School and Barnard College. She worked at the Queens County Farm Museum in Fresh Meadows in the 1970s, edited the Little Neck Ledger from 1977 to 1983 and worked in special events for the Alley Pond Environmental Center at the same time. She lived in Douglaston for most of her life.
“Her passion was the community,” Newton's son, Robert “Randy” Newton, said and “just being aware of everything that was going on. She was good at knowing when to stick her nose into things and when not to.”
In one incident, Newton was instrumental in helping to save a local landmark.
“In the fall of 1986, the last existing windmill in the city … was marked for demolition,” said Barbara Newton, one of her two daughters. “In less than three months, through the efforts of Dot and fellow members of the Committee to Save the Douglaston Windmill, sufficient funds were raised to move the circa 1870 relic from private property in Douglas Manor to city parkland.”
For nearly 20 years, Newton worked for Padavan, an influential Queens Republican whose district stretches from Bellerose through Douglaston, Bayside, Whitestone, College Point and parts of Fresh Meadows.
“What was fascinating for me was that she went from Great Neck to College Point to Whitestone (while working) for the senator, and each time she became very involved with the community there,” Randy Newton said. “It was fascinating, the people she got to meet, the issues she got involved with.”
“She's always been a dedicated, hardworking, very sincere individual in helping me represent my constituents and dealing with the communities,” Padavan said. “She didn't want to retire; she wanted to work. She enjoyed what she was doing. She had all of the credentials and background to enable her to do an excellent job, and she did.”
Dave Allison, former owner of the Little Neck Ledger, said he best remembered Newton's dedication to her neighborhood. “She was just so devoted to the community,” he said.
Newton was often at the forefront of many local organizations, helping them through the early stages. She was among the first staff members at the Queens County Farm Museum when it opened in 1975.
“She was basically taking care of museum operations in the way of class operations and event development and was one of the early stepping stones for the farm museum,” said Amy Fischetti, the museum's executive director. “She really provided a lot of strength and guidance in the early days.”
She “was a fixture in the northeast Queens area for many years,” said museum president James Trent, calling her “a real mover and shaker.”
Newton “was a fabulous fund-raiser,” Alley Pond president Irene Scheid recalled. “She was just able to get people on committees and donate lots of things and raise the money needed.”
Newton “wanted to strive for perfection. She would work herself hard. She would always want all her t's and i's crossed and dotted,” said Aline Euler, education director at Alley Pond. “We're going to miss her.”
In 1949, Newton married Robert Newton, who died in 1973. She is survived by her children Pamela, Barbara and Robert “Randy” Newton as well as grandson Stephen Weltsek V.
A memorial service was held at Zion Church Wednesday, followed by a reception at the Alley Pond Environmental Center. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Newton's name to the environmental center.
Reach reporter Sophia Chang by e-mail at news@timesledger.com, or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 146.
