Nancy Newman

BRIDGEPORT – Nancy Newman of Bridgeport was honored by Women’s Philanthropy of the UJA/Federation of Eastern Fairfield County at the organization’s recent gala, held on June 5 at the Jewish Community Center of Bridgeport. At the event, the community celebrated 50 years of early childhood education at the Jewish Community Center of Eastern Fairfield County in Bridgeport.  Newman was recognized for her groundbreaking role as the first director of the JCC’s Early Childhood Department.

“We are privileged to honor and recognize Nancy for her invaluable contributions to our community,” said Cheryl Green, event chair. “Nancy has always been deeply connected to the Jewish community and to the JCC in particular.  She grew up in New Haven and was active at the JCC there as a child; later, she was a counselor at the JCC day camp, and finally, she came to us in the capacity of teacher.”

Newman received her BA in early childhood education from Southern Connecticut State University and her MA in counseling from Fairfield University.  She completed post-graduate work at the Wheelock College Center for Parenting Studies and taught second grade in Newton, Mass. before settling in Bridgeport in 1956.

In 1963, she joined the staff of the Greater Bridgeport JCC as a teacher and as the first director of the Early Childhood Department. She was determined to establish a Jewish school that was developmentally appropriate, emphasized self- esteem, and responded to the needs of the community. The JCC nursery school opened with two classrooms and 40 children. By the time Newman retired more than 33 years later, the school served more than 200 children in seven classrooms per year.

Under her leadership, the JCC created programs to enhance the Early Childhood Department and the community at large. She arranged parent education forums, initiated mother support groups such as MINDS (Mothers In Need of Discussion), and created an award-winning intergenerational Shabbat program and an intergenerational volunteer program.

“Since many of today’s parents live in isolation, I wanted parents to get to know each other. I worked to make parts of the nursery school a playground for parents. I created Lou’s Corner to allow for coffee and conversation, which fostered friendships,” said Newman.

She worked with the department’s steering committee to construct a parenting center, a “Wonderful Ones” class, a toddler school, a pre-school camp (Camp Katan) and a kindergarten.

“We wanted to foster a strong sense of Jewish identity in the children and a strong attachment to the Jewish community by their parents.  We accomplished this through the celebration of Jewish holidays and Shabbat and by weaving Jewish culture throughout the curriculum, laying the foundation for a quality Jewish education,” Newman added.

“Nancy has enriched the Jewish community in so many ways, has dedicated her life to young children and their families, has nurtured thousands of young people and has set the standard of excellence in early childhood education,” said Green, herself a former nursery school mother who, under Newman’s direction, was an active volunteer and chairperson of the Early Childhood Department.

In addition to her involvement with the JCC, Newman has been an active member of Congregation Beth El in Fairfield, a member of its Sisterhood, Hadassah and the Women’s Auxiliary at the Jewish Home for the Elderly. Upon her retirement, Newman began to counsel young families who sought her guidance.

She and her husband, Noel, are the parents of three married children, Jeffrey and Lisa Newman of Fairfield, Terry Newman and David Rubin of Stamford, and Valerie Newman and Dave Woessner of Trumbull, and six grandchildren.

Reflecting on her life’s work, Newman said she felt humbled and blessed to have had such a worthwhile career. “I felt very fortunate to find my passion and have it turn into a career I enjoyed so much.”