Gene Ray Newman

Gene never met a stranger and had a smile, kind word or joke for everyone he encountered. He was deeply devoted to God, his family and church.

Gene was born in Birmingham, Alabama, where he attended South Highland Elementary School and Ramsay High School. He played clarinet in the Million Dollar Band at the University of Alabama, where he earned a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science ('53-'57). He proudly served in the US Army in Military Intelligence ('57-'84), including two tours of duty in Vietnam, attaining the rank of Sergeant Major. He then worked as a civilian in Air Force Intelligence ('85-'93).

He spent most of his career stationed in Japan, where he met and married the love of his life on Okinawa in 1961.

Gene spoke Japanese, Mandarin, Burmese and Spanish, and dabbled in several other languages. He enjoyed teaching English-as-a-second-language classes in Japan. He was an avid reader and would always be in the middle of 2 or 3 books at any given time. Among his many interests was stamp collecting, which was a vehicle to meet people from all over the world. He loved gardening, especially growing fruit trees and Asian flowers. Music was his passion, and not a day went by that he didn't sit and scroll through his thousands of downloads listening to old favorites. In addition to playing clarinet, he played flamenco guitar and taught himself to play the wind synthesizer. He enjoyed researching his and his wife's family ancestry, where his real joy was discovering new relatives. He loved all things Japanese, especially the food.

As a youth, baseball and fly-fishing were favorite pastimes, and he won his share of casting tournaments. His most cherished childhood memory was fishing on Lay Lake with his father.

He played volleyball and was a US Volleyball Association referee and a volunteer coach for the Zama American High School volleyball team for 9 years. He was also a volunteer assistant coach for the Pelham High School volleyball team in 1993 when the team won the state championship – the first-ever state title for the school in any sport.

Gene was a zealous Bama sports fan, especially football and softball. He loved his alma mater and was a founding member of the Tider Insider internet forum, as well as a member of the Alabama Alumni Association. He was also a member of the Society of American Baseball Research, International Society for Japanese Philately, and the Association of Former Intelligence Officers.

Among his military awards were: Meritorious Service Medal, 2 Bronze Stars, 2 Army Commendation Medals, National Defense Service Medal, 4 Vietnam Service Medals, RVN Medal of Honor, RVN Staff Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, RVN Cross of Gallantry, Presidential Unit Citation, Army Valorous Unit Citation, Army Meritorious Unit Citation.

His civilian awards include: Air Force Special Activities Center Intelligence Collector of the Year, Director of CIA Intelligence Collector of the Year.

Gene was preceded in death by his parents, James and Helen Newman, and sister, Louise Negin. He is survived by Yoshi, his beloved wife and soulmate of 58 years, and devoted daughters Becky Harumi and Linda Kei.

A celebration of Gene's life will be held Friday, May 17, 2019, 11:00am at Riverchase Baptist Church, 2020 Crossvine Rd, Birmingham, AL 35244. The family will receive friends 10:30 – 11:00am. Casual attire is perfectly acceptable in celebration of his joyful life.

Gene’s cremains will be inurned in a private ceremony with Military Honors at the Alabama National Cemetery in Montevallo.

Flowers are welcome as Gene loved them, but those who feel so inclined may wish to make a memorial donation in lieu of flowers to AMVETS (amvetsnsf.org).