Fred Newman Memorial Fund

Tragically, Fredrick Henry Newman, born in 1954 to Arthur and Marguerite Newman, passed away on February 9, 2024, in an accident while sailing in Key Largo, Florida. He had frequently sailed at the Key Lime Sailing Club and Cottages for many years and was loved by everyone at the club, in particular by Paul, who generously flew to Houston to return his belongings in person.

Fred leaves behind his wife Michele Newman of 21 years, his son Bradley Newman who is 15, and his step children Danielle, Adam, and Garet. All of whom deeply loved and cared for him. His brother Duane, his friend Sunny Jim, who wrote “Mind your head Fred” for him, his oldest friend Bud, his dear friend Sharon, and all the people he worked with as the CEO of Interface EAP which he founded over 30 years ago.

Fred met Michele in Las Vegas while she was traveling with her best friend Sharon in 2000. Fred and Michele married on June 7, 2003, and their love for each other was evident to all who knew them. They enjoyed traveling together to Turks and Caicos on their honeymoon, throughout the US, Mexico, and the Caribbean, and often to Galveston, Texas, with their friends and family. Fred and Michele frequently visited their favorite restaurant, Fogo De Chao, in Houston, where they sat at the same table for over 20 years. Together they created and cared for a beautiful tropical garden in their backyard where they sat together almost every night.

Bradley Newman was born in 2008 and was Fred’s best friend. They traveled together throughout Florida, Texas, and Nevada, and loved to go fishing, try new restaurants, and play golf. Everyone could see the resemblance between them, and could hear it when they laughed together. The many memories they created together, in particular over the past several years, live on in many videos and pictures which show the love they have for each other.

Fred’s stepchildren Danielle, Adam, and Garet knew him from young ages and loved him like a father. They spent many summers together, went on vacations, attended concerts, and created a lifetime of memories together. Danielle loved spending time with Fred at the Pier in Galveston Beach over her spring breaks, going on rides and playing carnival games. Adam and Fred shared a love of classic rock and saw The Rolling Stones live together, and Adam could always be found helping Fred at the grill. Garet lived with Fred, Michele, and Bradley for several years after college in a difficult period of his life and treasures the time spent together and the many conversations late into the evening.

Fred’s many friends fondly remember the decades spent together, often spent sailing, drinking, and laughing late into the evening. The care and love he had for them was heard in every story he told, in particular his many trips skiing and almost successfully teaching Sharon how to eat crawfish. The life shared between Fred and his friends was funny, affectionate, and lives on in the stories we now tell and share.

In lieu of flowers, the family would like any donations to help pay for Bradley’s future college expenses and to help them through this difficult time. His tragic and unexpected passing has impacted everyone who knew him, and we offer our condolences to those who share our grief.

Fred wanted his passing to be a celebration of his life, and in that spirit we leave you with the song written about him, and his sometimes inconvenient height “Mind your head Fred”.

We hope that you can join us in celebrating his life by listening, and remembering the great man who left us too soon.

https://www.reverbnation.com/jamessunnyjimwhite/song/25568482-mind-your-head-fred