Fig Newton, born on June 11, 1942, to Harold Leroy "Newt" and Margaret Jane "Peggy" Newton in Washington, DC departed this life, with his family surrounding him, at his home in Ridgeley, WV on Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022, after battling mesothelioma for over two years, through the height of the pandemic.

Fig's childhood was spent in Georgetown and Greenbelt, and he loved both places, but his family moved to Friendship, then Chesapeake Beach in the mid-fifties, and there he lived and thrived most of his life. Even though his home was now in WV, his heart and true home was Chesapeake Beach, Md.

In his youth, he was a very good athlete but a serious accident in 1961 put a damper on those dreams, although later he was able to greatly enjoy playing softball and his love of golf. He also enjoyed hunting and fishing in his younger years. His early working career was spent in roofing and sheet metal but later he excelled in his true calling—woodworking. He loved working with his hands making handmade furniture and working with leather making leather goods.

He was a good man who loved his family and friends, animals, and wildlife. He was a sucker for a stray animal, and through the years took in many dogs, a skunk, a raccoon, and raised and competed homing pigeons.

He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Gloria, his daughters Dawn Messinese and Paula Newton, his grandson and fishing buddy, Andrew Messinese II, brothers Robert "Bobby" and Rex Newton, aunt Marion Maxwell and numerous cousins and GREAT friends.

In honor of him, we will hold a celebration of life on what would have been his 80th birthday on Saturday, June 11th at Abner's Crabhouse in Chesapeake Beach, a special hangout of his.