Ethel Saunders Newman

Dr. Ethel Saunders Newman, 73, of Merritt Island, passed away on January 7, 2021. The viewing will be held on Friday, January 15, 2021 from 10-11AM at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Community. The funeral service will immediately follow at 11AM.

The funeral service can be live-streamed at the link below.
View Funeral Webcast

St. John the Evangelist Catholic Community
5655 Stadium Pkwy
Melbourne, FL 32940
(321) 637-9650

On Thursday, January 7, 2021 Dr. Ethel Louise Saunders Newman died peacefully with family at her side, in Merritt Island, FL. Beloved wife of Mr. Thomas A. Newman, Jr.; loving mother of Dr. Kelley Newman Moore (Kendall) and Mrs. Monica Newman McCluney (Kevin); and grandmother of Kendall (Ty) T. Moore, II, Kaelyn Alexandra Moore and William James McCluney.

Born in Washington, D.C. on April 5,1947 to the late Exum Tecumseh Saunders and Willetta Louise Shuffer Saunders, she was the oldest of two, predeceased by her only brother Exum Tecumseh Saunders, Jr. She accepted Christ at an early age at Israel Baptist Church and dedicated herself to a Christian life, her family, and the betterment of her community.

Ethel graduated from McKinley Technology High School in Washington, D.C. Thereafter, she matriculated to the District of Columbia Teachers College where she received a Bachelor of Science (Cum Laude) in Speech Pathology.  She furthered her education at George Washington University where she received a Master of Arts in Educational Administration. After a nearly fifteen-year career as an educator and speech pathologist with the Washington, D.C. Public Schools, she decided to change her career path. She then enrolled in the Howard University College of Dentistry where she graduated with a Doctorate of Dental Surgery (DDS).

This career pivot opened a window into the field of dentistry, but not a departure from education.  Following her General Practice Residency at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, she began a fifteen-year tenure at Howard University.  She served as an Associate Professor in the College of Dentistry, Department of Fixed Prosthodontics and Restorative Dentistry and as an Assistant Professor and Director of the Health Care Ethics Program in the College of Medicine, Department of Community Health and Family Practice.  Among her many accomplishments as an educator, one of her most proud accomplishments was when she served as Co-Principal Investigator for a landmark conference on “Death and Dying from an African American Perspective.”  During her years as a dental educator, Dr. Newman also maintained a private dental practice.

Following her first retirement, Dr. Newman and her husband relocated to Merritt Island, Florida. In search of a new opportunity, she had the distinct pleasure to serve as the Academic Dean in Health Sciences at Eastern Florida State College. That led to a promotion to the position of Provost.  She served as Provost for ten years; having served on Cocoa, Palm Bay, and Titusville campuses.

Even with her laser focus on her family and her career, Dr. Newman devoted many hours to her community during her time in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Florida.  In addition to being an active member of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, she held memberships in and gave service to Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated; The Links, Incorporated; NAACP; National Dental Association; Rotary International; Wuesthoff Hospital Ethics Committee; American Red Cross; Cocoa Beach Regional and Greater Palm Bay Chambers of Commerce; and Community Services Council/Aging Matters.