Martha Hart Newlon

Dear Martha,

     Marje and I were talking this morning about you, and how you were the sparkling lady that we met first when we joined yourAcademyofLifelong Learning Concert Band. 

It was a very small group then, and you were the key member of the small trumpet section.  I remember how happy you were to have the company of one more trumpet player.  Marje soon joined the band to help out in the percussion section. 

What a wonderful example of what one person can accomplish.  The band, now up to about 80 members is one of the best sounding “community” bands inDelaware.  Our trumpet section this year had 12 players.  We look good too, as our uniform for concerts is now tuxedos for the men and black for the ladies, and that gives us a really professional look.

I well remember that you were always full of new ideas, and the fact that the band is now part of the New Horizons Band Organization is thanks largely to your foresight and inspiration. 

We now have a small orchestra at the Academy, which is going through the same growing pains that the band went through when you were here, and Marje and I are playing our cellos there, helping them out. 

The band committee is still active (I am chairman this year), and we have some of the best Christmas Parties you can go to where we sing Christmas Carols accompanied by Carroll Humphrey, who can play anything we want to sing.

We wish you well, and trust that you are being well taken care of by your family.

With Love,

Marje and Darrel Schindler

I wanted to add with emphasis Martha's tireless support of others, in my case encouraging my teaching yoga at the Academy long before I was of admissible age.   she got themn to make an exception somehow. I think without her support and encouragement  I might well have not pursued all those following years of teaching yoga there and elsewhere.  I loved her sense of humor too and oblique ways of bringing up topics, sometimes took a while to find out just where she was headed.
 
All the best to you and the expansive Newlon family. 
 I was also very devoted to your father.
 
Susan Ward

Hello Martha, I have many good memories playing in the band with you.
Abe Wylie.

Martha,

Just before the ALL Band concert yesterday, several of us were discussing how much praise you deserve for the existence of the band.  Without your driving input, this group of 75 musicians would not exist today.  I can remember when there were only eleven of us.

I am glad to hear that you have a comfortable, attractive home.  Being near your family is a true benefit.

Many of us think of you often, and I wish you all the best.

Hank Smithies

Rosalie and I wish your mom a very Merry Christmas. She's a great, enthusiastic lady who knows how to motivate people and get things done.  A few years ago, she decided that theAcademyofLifelong Learningshould have aDrum Circleand she made it happen. She gently pushed me to learn how to drum and then run the circle. I've been doing it for about 6 years (with helpers) and lots of people have attended our classes. The drum circle meets every week (a different class each term) and we have a blast drumming all sorts of rhythms. Martha drummed with us for a few terms and really got the ball rolling. One day, Martha didn't have a drum, but found that she could do well hitting a hat box. She could do anything well,.

Martha - we love you,

Rosalie and Peter Popper