Deborah Newmark’s voice cracked as she read aloud a surprise love letter her husband of 36 years left to her after his death last month at age 91.
Her husband, Dr Gerald ‘Jerry’ Newmark, was a white Army veteran who fought for Civil Rights and joined Dr Martin Luther King Jr’s Selma march 53 years ago.
He wrote to her: ‘My beautiful darling wonderful special wife – a gift that came to me, I know not why but at a time that I certainly needed one.
‘You are not only my wife, but also my daughter, mother, student, teacher, worker, boss, and partner. How could one person be so many things – who knows? And together we live on. Obviously I will miss you. Please enjoy yourself for both of us. I will be watching.’
Deborah, who received the note two days after he passed away peacefully in his sleep last month in their Tarzana, California home, told DailyMail.com that she was shocked to get his final love letter from his assistant.
Army veteran Dr. Gerald Newmark (pictured with his wife Deborah in January) joined Dr Martin Luther King Jr to participate in the final historic march from Selma, Alabama to Montgomery. He passed away peacefully last month at age 91. His wife told DailyMail.com that he left behind one last sweet love letter
He wrote to her: ‘My beautiful darling wonderful special wife – a gift that came to me, I know not why but at a time that I certainly needed one.’ They are pictured together above at a casino
Pictured above is the full love letter that Newmark wrote for his wife which was given to her after he passed away last month
‘I just think, like, what a guy to write this,’ she said while tearing up. ‘It’s like knowing that when I do have a good time, it’s for the both of us. It was a beautiful impactful letter that he left to give me permission to keep going on and living life that will be enjoyed and stuff.
‘It was really great and I’ve been sharing it with so many different people in our lives.’
In a March interview commemorating the 53rd anniversary of the Selma marches, Newmark told DailyMail.com about his experience going against his family’s wishes to join the historic fight for equal rights.
He said that he was inspired to join marchers after watching on television the violence unleashed on hundreds of protesters during what was later called Bloody Sunday in Alabama.
‘I knew this was going to be an important event. Things in the United States were getting worse and I wanted to be at the march,’ Newmark said.
Deborah told DailyMail.com that she was so shocked to receive the love letter he wrote. She said: ‘It was a beautiful impactful letter that he left to give me permission to keep going on and living life that will be enjoyed and stuff. It was really great and I’ve been sharing it with so many different people in our lives.’
In a March interview commemorating the 53rd anniversary of the Selma marches, Newmark told DailyMail.com about his experience going against his family’s wishes to join the historic fight for equal rights. He is pictured with his mother Esther Newmark in his Army uniform
He said that he was inspired to join marchers after watching on television the violence unleashed on hundreds of protesters during what was later called Bloody Sunday in Alabama. Pictured above is a group of marchers, including Congressman John Lewis, being beaten by Alabama State Troopers on March 7, 1965
He was proud to say that he stood on the right side of history when he joined thousands for the marches that eventually helped to pass the Voting Rights Act – which is considered to be one of the most important achievements of the Civil Rights movement.
‘It made me feel I was doing something important. It inspired me to continue to work hard for Civil Rights,’ he said.
‘The march led me to so many other things when I came home.’
Newmark was born in the Bronx, New York on November 19, 1926. He attended Indiana University where he earned his both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in foreign languages. He continued his education to earn his PhD in Education from the University of Southern California.
Newmark told DailyMail.com: ‘I knew this was going to be an important event. Things in the United States were getting worse and I wanted to be at the march.’ He was proud to say that he stood on the right side of history when he joined thousands for the marches that eventually helped to pass the Voting Rights Act – which is considered to be one of the most important achievements of the Civil Rights movement
Newmark served in the Army and was a veteran of World War II. After leaving the Army, he received support from the G.I. Bill of Rights and a prestigious Fulbright Fellowship where he continued his studies in France. Years later, he received a Presidential Citation from President Richard Nixon for his tireless work in education. He is pictured above in his Army uniform
He served in the Army and was a veteran of World War II and after leaving the service, he received support from the G.I. Bill of Rights and a prestigious Fulbright Fellowship where he continued his studies in France.
Newmark also received a Presidential Citation from President Richard Nixon for his tireless work in education. Plus, he was awarded a seven-year Ford Foundation grant to continue his educational research and is the author behind a handful of books.
But one of the most critical aspects of Newmark’s life was his passion for civil rights and youth affairs.
Newmark and his wife co-founded The Children’s Project non-profit organization to help assist parents, teachers and childcare providers in creating emotionally healthy environments for children.
Newmark and his wife co-founded The Children’s Project non-profit organization to help assist parents, teachers and childcare providers in creating emotionally healthy environments for children. Deborah plans to host a celebration of life ceremony for her husband sometime in July
He was committed to improving inter-personal relationships using the five critical emotional needs: to feel respected, important, accepted, included, and secure. One of his many goals was to call the world’s attention to the dangers of neglecting children’s emotional health in homes and schools.
He is survived by his wife, Deborah, and son, David Newmark.
In lieu of flowers, his family is asking for donations to be sent to The Children’s Project – www.emotionallyhealthychildren.org.
A celebration of life ceremony will be held for Newmark in July.