John "Nappy" J. Newell

John Joseph Newell

Father, husband, grandfather, life of the party John J. Newell known to many as “Nappy” of Silver Spring, Maryland passed away peacefully surrounded by those he loved at home on August 10, 2019 at the age of 77.  He fought a long courageous battle against his evil nemesis cancer.

Born in Washington D.C., he was the son of the late Theodore and Alma Lunsford Newell and attended Calvin Coolidge High School where he was trained in Lithographic Offset Printing.  In 1961 he enlisted in the Army where he proudly served in the US Army’s 3rd Armored Division in Germany.

Nappy lived life to the fullest and was well known for his humor (and pranks).  He loved to play fast pitch softball and enjoyed time spent at his family’s summer cottage in Herald Harbor.  Nappy was an avid reader across all genres and particularly enjoyed reading and quoting Kurt Vonnegut. Upon discharge he met his main squeeze Patricia Hunt at a wedding, it took some chasing but he won her heart over and they were married within 6 months.  He is survived by his wife of 55 years Patricia Hunt Newell, daughters Pamela N. Calce (Matthew) and Stephanie N. Pack (Matthew), and four grandchildren Nicholas and Charles Calce and Collin and Jordan Pack, nieces and nephews who lovingly referred to him as  “the coolest uncle ever” and so many friends. He was preceded in death by his sisters Jean Whittlesey, Mary Ann Legassie and Carole Thomas and grandson Matthew D. Calce.

As a union journey press operator, Nappy was incredibly diversified and known as a thinker, problem solver and team player who strived to improve the printing process. He was a supervisor, teacher, mentor, and incredible communicator who worked great with people and passed on a wealth of industry knowledge.

Nappy loved to plan gatherings, especially crab feasts, fall oyster parties and his notorious NCAA March Madness get togethers.  Music was a significant part of his life, for many years he enjoyed front row season tickets to Merriweather Post Pavilion concerts where he generously shared his passion for music with friends and family and could often be found rocking out to classic vinyl records with a cold Miller Lite in his man shed, the barn. Nappy was renowned for his incredible dance skills, shutting down the dance floor surrounded by fans young and old was his specialty.

 Funeral service to be held on Monday, August 19, 2019 at 11:30 am at the Crownsville Veteran's Cemetery Chapel, 1122 Sunrise Beach Road, Crownsville, MD  21032.

Nappy will be missed but not forgotten, a “Celebration of Life” will be held this fall, date and time to be announced at a later date.

“Everything was beautiful and nothing hurt.”

-Kurt Vonnegut

In lieu of flowers the family kindly requests donations be made to Montgomery Hospice, 1355 Piccard Drive, Suite 100, Rockville, MD 20850.

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