Obituary of William Newell

William Michael Newell 95, of Geneva died peacefully at home, on June 2, 2025, from the effects of Parkinsons disease. Bill was born in Brooklyn, New York, on Feb 4th, 1930. His parents were Janette Sutherland Newell and William Leonard Newell. He grew up in Grassy Point in the Hudson Valley on the west bank of the Hudson River. He graduated from Haverstraw High School and The New York Institute of Photography. He served in the United States Army in Korea and Japan during the Korean War. He was employed for over thirty years by the Bethlehem Steel Export Corporation. Bill and his wife Rita owned and operated the Reading House Bed and Breakfast in Rock Stream NY for 20 years. Bill leaves behind his wife of 62 years, Rita Bulloch Newell, children Morag Parry, Peter Newell (Marka) and Michael Newell, grandsons Noah Parry and Jamie Newell, sister-in-law Elizabeth Bulloch, and many cousins, nieces and nephews. Bill was pre-deceased by his parents, sisters Pauline, Helen and Janet, son-in-law Luke Parry, and brother-in-law Kenneth Bulloch. Bill was a man of integrity, who was intensely curious and had a vast knowledge of the arts, sciences, politics and history. He was heavily involved in all the communities in which he lived, and although a life-long democrat, was eager to work with everyone who was interested in finding solutions to problems in these communities. Bill was appalled and saddened by the current discord and growing polarization in the country. Bill loved to travel. Upon retirement he was able to fulfill a life-long dream of traveling to Italy, to see in person, the art and architecture he had loved for so long from afar. He was an avid gardener, with a special passion for growing iris. He loved welcoming friends and family and cooking for them. Bill always had a cat, and as his world narrowed because of his declining mobility, he cherished his time sitting with Rita and his cat, while listening to opera and Beethoven, eating good food and watching a weekly movie with his dear friends, Mary and Chet. The family would like to thank the Canandaigua Veterans Administration Home-Based Primary Care team and Audiology Department, the doctors and nurses of the Rochester University Medicine Movement Disorders Clinic and the Ontario-Yates Hospice team. The family would like to give special appreciation to Mary Gee, Bill's primary caregiver whose kindness and support along with that of all his friends and neighbors made it possible for Bill to die, as he wished, at home with his family. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the charity of your choice. Following Bill's wishes there will be no calling hours or funeral. A celebration of Bill's life will take place at a later time at the convenience of the family.