Thomas Newell Obituary

Thomas Eric Newell

Aug 20, 1965 - Feb 3, 2025

Lakeside-Marblehead

Thomas Eric Newell, age 59, died at Magruder Hospital, Port Clinton, Monday, February 3, 2025, after living with Down Syndrome and a long battle with Diabetes and Alzheimer's disease.

Eric, the son of Thomas and Marjorie (Cottle) Newell, was born in Cleveland August 20, 1965, and he attended preschool and Miles Park Elementary School in Cleveland until 1975. They then moved to their cottage in Channel Grove on the Marblehead Peninsula where he had spent every summer. He attended Danbury Schools until he was in the 9th grade and then he went to school at Riverview Industries and continued to work at RVI as an adult. He received the "Best Worker" award at RVI several times. He even worked outside of the workshop detailing cars and cleaning offices with supervision from job coaches. He enjoyed his friends and the staff at RVI. He loved bowling and playing Uno. He participated in Special Olympics at The Ohio State University. He loved to travel with his parents and his favorite place in the world was Cedar Point.

After his parents died, he continued living at his childhood home under the care of employees from STEPS (Supports to Enhance Personal Skills), a Supported Living Provider Agency in Fremont. He had many wonderful caregivers over the past 13 years who managed his house, meals and diabetes. For the first time, he lived HIS life with his own friends and was treated like family by his caregivers. This could not have been possible without these two agencies and many good people over the years from Ottawa County Board of Developmental Disabilities, Ottawa County Job and Family Services and the patient bus drivers from Ottawa County Transportation Agency (OCTA).

Eric was preceded in death by his parents; and niece, Holly Halblaub.

He is survived by his sisters, Lyn (James) Donahue of Maine and Lorrie (Scott) Halblaub of Marblehead; two nieces; one nephew; and four great-nieces.

The family would like to thank all of the people who helped Eric over the years, especially, RVI, STEPS, Magruder Hospital and Dr. Steven Jackson. Eric was well taken care of and well loved by many.

After cremation, visitation will be from 2-4 p.m. Sunday, February 9, 2025, at Neidecker, Crosser & Priesman Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Peninsula Chapel, 7755 E. Harbor Rd. Lakeside-Marblehead. Private family interment will be at Sackett Cemetery at a later date.

Memorial contributions may be given to Alzheimer's Association, Northwest Ohio Chapter, 480 W. Dussel Drive, Suite 150, Maumee, OH 43537.

Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.neideckercrosserpriesman.com