Obituary of Michael Newton

"Externally simple, internally complicated." That was Mike, in the words of his wife Karen. Michael Newton was born in Philadelphia on March 21, 1963 and died at home in Berlin, New Jersey on March 27, 2014, just a few days after his 51st birthday. The son of Loretta Francis Newton and the late George McZeak, Mike spent his childhood and adolescence in Philadelphia, and, like a true Philly guy, loved his cheesesteaks and hoagies, his water ice and pretzels, his Phillies, Eagles, '76ers and Flyers. He graduated from George Washington High School, where he proudly wore number 22 on his football team jersey. In his early 20s, he went to work at Quest Diagnostics, where, over the span of 28 years, up until just months before his death, he was a valued colleague, a respected employee, and a cherished friend. He was a star on his bowling team. The world was Mike's oyster, and, especially during his courtship and marriage to his beloved Karen, he logged thousands of miles. They courted at Disneyland and married in Hawaii, took cruises throughout the Caribbean and visited the exotic capitals of Europe and the Mediterranean. Closer to home, Mike loved the Atlantic City casinos and the sparkle of Las Vegas. Yet nothing was as important as the beautiful home he shared with Karen and on which he lavished much care and attention. Michael is survived by his wife, Karen Newton; his stepson, Brandon Carter; his mother, Loretta Francis Newton; his sister, Sheila Newton, and brother, Herndon McZeak; his first cousins, Angel Spann and Brian DeSeignora; and his niece, Chiara Howard. His mother-in-law, Etta Pearson, his brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Randall and Tracy Pearson, and his brothers-in-law, Milton Pearson and Raconda Pearson, also survive Michael, along with many nieces, nephews, other close family and many friends.