H. LeRoy Newbold, engineer, former president of FOPAC and long time resident of Concord, died February 25th.
Born in 1924 in Beverly Farms MA overlooking the sea, he was raised in Boston’s Back Bay. He enjoyed boating from an early age both on the coast and in the Adirondacks. After graduating from the Brooks School in North Andover, he joined the army and served in the European theater during WWII as a part of an anti-aircraft artillery unit.
After the war, he returned home and attended Harvard and received his BS in Applied Physics and Engineering in 1950. He was a member of the Harvard’s Phoenix SK club. In 1952, he moved to Concord and bought his home on Lowell Road. He spent his career in Boston as a lead mechanical engineer and fluid systems designer for power plants with a specialty in fast breeder nuclear power plants systems. His work spanned the nuclear industries’ inception in the 50’s until its effective demise in the early 80’s. He worked on the Enrico Fermi Reactor Plant in Michigan, Seabrook Station Nuclear Power Plant and many other projects throughout the United States and Puerto Rico. He also was a pioneer in small scale nuclear power plants for naval use; performed inspections and investigations for industry regulatory agencies; and taught engineering at Northeastern University. Even in his old farm house, he found endless “opportunities for the application of a little engineering” (AKA “puttering around”) with the house’s old steam heat system, eventually migrating to an early adoption of super insulation combined with solar thermal systems.
A modest man of few words and abundant energy, LeRoy also applied abundant time volunteering. In the early 60’s He served on the vestry of Trinity Church during the construction of their sanctuary. Later, he assumed an important role in the formation of FOPAC and renovation of the town’s former National Guard armory building into the arts complex now know as 51 Walden. Over the years, he served on many FOPAC boards, renovation project teams and as president. LeRoy taught navigation, boating safety and sailing with the Nobscot Sail and Power Squadron, eventually rising to the rank of Commander. He was also a member of the Concord Country Club, Concord Players and First Parish Church.
His respite was always to be on the open water. He enjoyed 60 years of sailing in the Fox Islands of the Penobscot Bay in Maine, where he had a summer home, and canoeing on the rivers of Concord.
LeRoy was a feature at social events and dances in Concord, known for his confident dancing, bright blue eyes, shy wit, dedication and friendship. As the Parkinson’s took hold, he lost his footwork but made up for it in the warmth of his gaze and smile he gave to all who cared for him. His physical resilience, perseverance and strength were an outward sign of the character within.
He shared his long life with his beloved wife Cynthia (and earlier with his late wife Mary Crocker), five children, two step-sons and six grandchildren and three step grand children, all of whom shared in his “projects” and continue his love of family, the arts, the sea and Concord.
Memorial services will be held March 20th, 10 am, at First Parish Church in Concord.