Dorothy P. Newhouse

Newhouse, Dorothy P. of West Orange, NJ, and Delray Beach, FLA, passed away peacefully surrounded by love on June 14, 2011. Born in New York City, Dorothy’s family moved to New Britain, Conn, when she was an infant. There her father, Barnett Cohen, established a kosher cattle and meat business. When her father passed away in 1917, her mother, Jenny Chagy Cohen, continued to operate the retail establishment, which she did successfully for over 20 years, while raising their four children.

Dorothy loved art and singing like her uncle the famous cantor, Berel Chagy; and she was an artist, creating signs and window displays for her mother and other local merchants. Upon graduation from New Britain High School, she embarked on an adventure in New York City as an art student at Pratt Institute. Seeing starving artists on the streets of New York in the worst years of the Depression, multi-talented Dorothy abandoned her dream, and returned to Connecticut to study nursing at Mt. Sinai Hospital in Hartford. That led to her meeting her beloved Nahman Newhouse, her husband for over 50 years, whose family owned the laundry that cleaned her nurse’s uniforms. Dorothy earned her Registered Nurses certification and worked until the mid 1940’s in Massachusetts and Queens, New York, while Nahman pursued his career for Newhouse Publications at the Long Island Press and Star Journal. They raised two beloved daughters, Barbara and Lynne.

After WWII Dorothy left the work force, moved to West Orange, NJ, learned to drive, and became a full-time mother and passionate volunteer, when Nahman moved to work at the Newark Star Ledger, Jersey Journal, and Staten Island Advance. Dorothy was President of her B’nai Brith chapter, and PTA. Her artistic skills were put to use doing set design for the National Council of Jewish Women, and annually decorated the Grand Ballroom of the Waldorf Astoria for the B’nai Brith Donor Luncheon.

In the ‘60’s Dorothy went back to college, earning her Bachelor of Science degree at Jersey City University. Upon graduation, she went to work for the West Orange Public Schools as School Nurse and teacher at West Orange Mountain High School, where she influenced and inspired many students until the mid ‘70’s.

Dorothy and Nahman purchased a winter retirement home in Delray Beach, Florida, where Nahman relaxed and played golf, and Dorothy became an active and sought after volunteer for the Palm Beach County Library, Planned Parenthood, the Hadassah Nurses Council, League of Women Voters, and other organizations in Palm Beach County. When Nahman passed away in 1985, Dorothy was able to travel, visiting Russia, France, Italy, and the Caribbean.

Dorothy enjoyed spending time playing canasta and mahjong and going to concerts with her daughter, Barbara Reiss, at the YMYWHA of North Jersey, in Wayne, NJ. She enjoyed her many visits to San Francisco to visit her daughter, Lynne Newhouse Segal, and her family.

Dorothy will be forever remembered for her love and indomitable spirit by her family, Barbara and Harold Reiss, Lynne Newhouse and Ed Segal; grandchildren Matthew and Ned Segal, Lori and Jonathan Reiss; and great-grandchildren, Lucas, Laney, Lilah, and Ellis Segal.

Funeral services will be held at Jewish Memorial Chapel, 841 Allwood Road, Clifton, NJ; followed by internment at Baron Hirsch Cemetery in Staten Island, NY. Shiva will be observed at the home of her daughter, Barbara Reiss, in Wayne, NJ, through June 23; and at the home of her daughter, Lynne Newhouse Segal in San Francisco, June 22 and 23.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Planned Parenthood and Hadassah.

Funeral arrangements by Kraeer Funeral Home, Boca Raton FL.