Eleanor Simmons Newton, 100, of Glen Rock, NJ, passed away peacefully at home on November 7, 2024.

Eleanor was born on October 9, 1924 to Perry C. Simmons and Lilly Dale Allen Simmons in Monongahela, PA. One year after graduating from Monongahela High School in 1942 she went on to Howard University where she earned a BS degree in psychology (cum laude) and became a member of the Alpha Chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority. After graduation she earned her master’s degree in education at Howard and worked in the Office of the Dean of Women.

While an undergraduate, Eleanor was introduced to Oliver Newton by her sister Ruth - both also Howard students. They married on May 20, 1950 in the Howard University Chapel and by January 1951 they were living in Turrialba, Costa Rica at the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (now known as the Center for Tropical Agricultural Research and Education) where Oliver researched coffee and Eleanor worked in one of the offices. By 1953 they were living in Los Angeles where Eleanor taught at the Sheridan Street Elementary School while Oliver continued his studies at USC before returning to Washington, D.C. in 1957. By the next year they’d moved to Glen Rock, NJ after Oliver accepted a teaching position at Paterson State Teachers College (now William Paterson University) in Wayne, NJ.

Not long after, Eleanor began her 36-year career as a teacher (School 18) and then Vice Principal (School 10) in the Paterson, NJ school system. When she was well into her 90’s former students still recognized and remembered her with warmth. Eleanor was active in her community contributing time and energy to the Order of the Lamp Scholarship Organization, the Central School Parent Teachers Association, the Glen Rock Community Church (Consistory and other committees), The Valley Hospital Auxiliary (“Gray Ladies”) and the Glen Rock League of Women Voters (Voter Registration Committee). After she retired, Eleanor made it a goal to do something every day to help someone else. Every single day she asked, “How can I help?” until the very last.

Eleanor was well known on Henry Street and surrounding blocks for her kindness, generosity, enthusiasm for the success of others and her smile. She enjoyed cooking and her apple pie was described as life changing for those lucky enough to taste it. She traveled extensively to all 48 of the contiguous United States and numerous countries. Eleanor (and Oliver) were subscription holders at the Metropolitan Opera, the New York Philharmonic and enjoyed many other cultural activities. Coming from a small town in Western Pennsylvania she “pinched” herself to think she lived so close to New York City and within reach of all it has to offer.

“Aunt Till” was an enthusiastic participant in family and in-law activities and is remembered by nieces,
nephews, great nieces and nephews and great, great nephews and nieces.

Eleanor is survived by her daughter Martha Newton of New York City and Harding, NJ. She was preceded in death by her husband Oliver, her brothers (James Simmons, Paul Simmons) and her sister (Ruth Pettis).

There was a private burial on November 9, 2024 at the Monongahela Cemetery, Monongahela, PA. A memorial service will be held on January 4, 2025 at 11:30 am at the Community Church of Glen Rock, 354 Rock Road, Glen Rock, NJ and livestreamed at https://www.youtube.com/@communitychurchofglenrock8594

The family would be honored by contributions to the Southern Poverty Law Center, Montgomery, AL in Eleanor’s memory.