Banner & Witcoff remembers our friend and former name partner George B. Newitt, who died on April 18, 2018. George spent most of his career at the Chicago law firm that eventually became Allegretti, Newitt, Witcoff and McAndrews.
George grew up in Grosse Pointe, Michigan, and graduated from Wayne State University with a degree in chemical engineering. He helped create self-sealing fuel tanks for the United States Rubber Company during the war. He graduated from Notre Dame Law School in 1948, and worked in the United States Rubber Company Law Department. He moved to Wheaton in 1953, when he joined our firm.
“George was an early leader of our firm, and many of our lawyers still have fond memories of him and the way he approached intellectual property law,” said Banner & Witcoff president Charles L. Miller. “The firm offers its deepest sympathies to his family.”
Following is his obituary:
George B. Newitt, a resident of Wheaton, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, April 18, 2018, a week after his 100th birthday. He was born April 13, 1918 in Detroit, Michigan to Edward and Madeline Newitt.
George grew up in Grosse Pointe, Michigan where he graduated from high school. He graduated from Wayne State with a degree in Chemical Engineering. He worked for the United States Rubber Company during the war, helping to create self-sealing fuel tanks. He married Virginia Bossardet in 1942. After the war, he enrolled at Notre Dame Law School and graduated in 1948. He worked in the Law Department of United States Rubber Company until he moved his family to Wheaton in 1953. He worked for the rest of his career at the Chicago law firm that eventually became Allegretti, Newitt, Witcoff and McAndrews.
He was an active member of the Christian Legal Society for his entire career. He was founder of the Journal of the Christian Legal Society, and served as Treasurer and President.
He was a Trustee at Wheaton College and served as Secretary of the Board. Wheaton College was an important part of his life and he participated in many commencements and continued as Trustee Emeritus.
His Christian faith was an important part of his life and he was known for leading singing and prayer in various organizations. He was an active member of College Church in Wheaton, where he sang in the choir for over 50 years.
In retirement he remained active and volunteered with the Wheaton Lions Club, served on the board of the Spectrios Institute for Low Vision (Deicke Center), and was involved with many activities at Wyndemere Retirement Community.
George is survived by his children Timothy (Judy), Daniel (Gail), Sylvia (the late Dale) Alloway and Dennis (Mary), his grandchildren, Brock, Benjamin, Daniel (Cynthia), Christopher (Katie), Stephen and Devin, great grandchildren, Casey and Aspen, and one brother, John Newitt.
He was preceded in death by his wife Ginny, his parents, grandson, Matthew Alloway and two siblings, Elizabeth Russell and Edward “Dick” Newitt.
Posted: April 27, 2018
