Newton, Dayton O.

Description

Dayton Osis Newton was born on December 11, 1909, in Fort Edward, New York, to Alma ( Alihna ) Harriet Dorum, age 26, and William Henry Newton, age 26. He was raised and educated in Fort Edward and was a graduate of Ithaca College of Music.

In 1931 he moved to Rye, NY and was director of music at Rye High School for eleven years. As director and conductor of the High School Band, he championed many musicall events throughout the depression plagued 1930’s.

Dayton married Mary Pauline Martin on March 23, 1940 and they had one son together. In Rye his family lived at 82 Central Ave. He took a leave of absence from Rye High School in 1942 to join the service.

Dayton enlisted July 17, 1942 and served as an officer in the U.S. Navy during World War II.

He served as a lieutenant commander. In 1945 he was injured on his ship off Iceland.

Lieut. Comdr. Dayton O. Newton, CSNR., former head of the High School’s music department, is hospitalized from eardrum injuries suffered when his ship was shelled off Iceland, and it cannot be determined
when he will be able to return home.

David was honorably discharged December 7, 1945. As a result of his injuries he resigned from his teaching position at Rye High School.

Dayton O. Newton, music director, who is now on terminal leave as a commander in the Navy, submitted his resignation, asserting that impaired hearing received in line of duty prevented his return to the teaching staff.
The Daily Item 1946 Jan 11 Page 2

By 1950 Dayton had recovered from his injuries and had moved to Saugus, MA where he was teaching music at a private school.

He would then take a position as head of music and band director at Admiral Farragut Academy, Pine Beach, N.J., from 1954 until 1971.

While at the academy he and the students restored the schooner Emma C. Berry, which is now at Mystic Seaport, Mystic, Conn.

He was a resident of Pine Beach for many years before moving to Maine in 1975. For many summers, he was captain of schooner cruises, sailing from Rockland.

Dayton O. Newton, a former band director, died Sunday at home, September 11, 1988, in Pine Beach, New Jersey, at the age of 78. His wife, Mary, had died three months earlier.

 

At the time of his death, he was survived by one son, John T. Newton of Wiscasset; one sister, Louise N. Schultz of Fort Edward, N.Y.; and two grandchildren.