Obituary of Nancy Cahill Newton

Nancy Ellen Cahill Newton Nancy Cahill Newton died at home on June 28, 2010 surrounded by her family and a close family friend. Born September 3, 1927, in New Orleans, to Irving and Frances Cahill, Nancy was 82. Her early childhood was spent in the South in New Orleans, Dallas, and Atlanta as her father worked as an insurance agent. Her father's work took the family to New York City in 1939. Nancy attended Central High School in Washington, D.C. and graduated in 1945. Nancy had always wanted to be a nurse. She became a registered nurse upon graduating from Flower-Fifth Avenue School of Nursing in New York City in 1948. Nancy joined the Army Nurse Corps in 1949. She attended basic training at Fort Sam Houston in Texas. Nancy served during the Korean War. She spent a year in the 171st Evacuation Hospital in Taejon, Korea, and a year in hospitals in Japan. With the war over in 1953, Nancy was stationed at Fitzsimmons Army Hospital in Denver. Discharged with the rank of Captain, Nancy enlisted in the Army Reserves for seven years during which she completed her B.S. in Nursing at the University of Maryland and her M.A. in Hospital Administration at Columbia University. She was the Director of Nurses at Mound Park Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida. At a party in "St. Pete," Nancy met Bill Newton, a U.S. Coast Guardsman, and they married in 1961. They lived with their two children on the U.S. Naval Base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, 1962-1964. Nancy and their children were evacuated during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Later, the family settled in Aptos. Nancy was a devoted wife and mother. Due to Bill's disability, the Newton family helped make Santa Cruz County more accessible for people with disabilities. Nancy was an active member and Elder of St. Andrew Presbyterian Church since 1966, where youth work and community outreach were her passions. She was also an active member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Aptos Post 10110. Nancy volunteered as a field representative seeking women veterans to be included in The Women's Memorial. She was honored to be in the company of thousands of women veterans at the dedication of the memorial at Arlington National Cemetery in 1997. Nancy was always "on duty" to serve others. She enjoyed traveling, reading, swimming, gardening, attending plays, and listening to music. Nancy greatly valued her many friendships. Her greatest joy, in recent years, was being a grandmother. Nancy was preceded in death by her husband. She is survived by her son, John Newton of Aptos; her daughter, Valerie Peet, son-in-law, David Peet, and grandchildren, Alaina and Caden Peet of Santa Cruz; her cousin, Betty Cummings of Louisiana, and extended family. A military service will be held at Holy Cross Cemetery in Santa Cruz at 11:00 a.m. and a memorial service will be at 2 p.m. at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church in Aptos on Saturday, July 17. Donations are appreciated in Nancy's memory to St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, 9850 Monroe Ave., Aptos, CA, 95003; VFW Aptos Post 10110, P.O. Box 928, Aptos, CA, 95001, or to your favorite charity. Please visit www.pacificgardenschapel.com to sign the online guest book.