Obituaries

Aaron Landiss Newman

Photo of Aaron Landiss Newman
Aaron Landiss Newman died on June 6, 2013. He was 30 years old. Aaron was born in Fayetteville to Joseph Newman and Karen Tabor and lived his entire life in Fayetteville before moving in early 2013 to Rochester Minnesota to receive treatment at the Mayo Clinic. Aaron suffered from childhood congenital illnesses which resulted in slowly declining health beginning in his teens and culminating in kidney and heart disease, which were the cause of his death. Aaron was a gifted scholar. His passions included psychology, philosophy, futurism, and above all, computer gaming. While he had hoped to make a career as a programmer in the gaming industry, he was forced to scale back his goals as his condition worsened. Aaron was a loyal friend, brother, son and grandson. Though he went through some difficult years in his late teens, his strength of character enabled him to return to the caring and loving person that we all knew and loved. Aaron's Fayetteville apartment, which he occupied with the two cats that were his treasured companions, was full of books, computer and Xbox games, and the fresh herbs that he used in his creative cooking. He enjoyed getting together with his friends for gaming sessions and his family for dinners and occasions. He was extremely witty and entertained us with his stories and impersonations. Perhaps due in part to his own condition, he was exceedingly accepting of others that society shunned, and so he was intolerant only when others were judgmental or elitist. His personal strength and bravery were again in evidence as he underwent numerous medical procedures. While Aaron greatly appreciated the medical technology that extended his life and many caring individuals in the medical community who became his companions, he used his considerable ability to become a knowledgeable health consumer and was not hesitant to point out and criticize care when it was inadequate or harmful. Though the outlook seemed bleak, Aaron never despaired and never gave up hope or his plans. In addition to his mother and father, Aaron is mourned by his sister, Anna Newman, his stepmother, Dawn Newman and stepsister, Courtney Turner, his grandparents, Jack and Peggy Tabor and Pearl Newman, and many uncles, aunts, cousins and friends. His grandfather, Harold Newman, passed away several years ago. A memorial service will be held on Sunday, June 23 at 2 p.m. at Temple Shalom, 699 N. Sang Ave., Fayetteville, Ark. Donations in Aaron's memory may be sent to Mayo Clinic Department of Development, 200 First St. SW, Rochester, MN 55905. Alternatively, you may contribute to the Aaron Newman Memorial Fund at Bank of Fayetteville, which will be used to create a permanent community memorial to Aaron.

Published June 14, 2013

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