Bill Newlands Jr. and La Jerne Terry Cornish during the dedication of the classroom in Hill Center in his father's name.
Bill Newlands Jr. and La Jerne Terry Cornish during the dedication of the classroom in Hill Center in his father's name.
As a veteran coach, Bill Newlands ‘50 specialized in managing the clock, seemingly stretching out every second to maximize his time.
So, in 1964 as he stood face to face with his toughest opponent yet, cancer, Coach Newlands pulled out his usual playbook. Given just three months to live, he took the match of his life into overtime...for half a century.
Just before his passing in 2015, the longtime health teacher celebrated the 50th anniversary of his diagnosis.
“[My] dad really believed in athletics. He felt that you could learn a lot of great things about teamwork, leadership, competition, and really good life skills,”
Bill Newlands Jr.
His wife, Evelyn, was not immune to the competitive fire that burned in the Newlands home. The teacher and librarian, who also loved golf, recorded six holes-in-one, the last when she was 80 years old.
Last year, when Evelyn passed away at 94, the Newlands family announced that Bill and Evelyn’s estate would fund an endowment to aid Ithaca College athletics. To recognize the family and their legacy of giving—both to their community and to Bill’s alma mater—IC dedicated a classroom in his honor. In fact, Hill Center 107 was quickly pressed into action, serving as a lunch area during the Special Olympics New York State Games. As athletes and coaches filed in, they were greeted by a photograph of Bill Newlands on a plaque commemorating his life.
The Newlands’ only son said his parents were both educators and that his father believed that sports could also be a kind of classroom.
“Dad really believed in athletics. He felt that you could learn a lot of great things about teamwork, leadership, competition, and really good life skills,” said Bill Newlands Jr., the president and CEO of Constellation Brands. Though he did not attend Ithaca College himself, he did spend a summer living on campus. Before his senior year of high school, he attended a National Science Foundation program in chemistry and physics held at the college. He also has another IC connection:
The Hill Center 107 Classroom was dedicated in honor of the Newlands' legacy of giving to both the community and the college. (Photo by Bob Wagner)
“We can say many great things about him,” noted President La Jerne Terry Cornish at the classroom dedication ceremony, “but one of the greatest things we can say is that he had the good sense to marry an IC graduate, especially one who is herself a transformative talent who has never forgotten her roots.”
A longtime leader in wine marketing, Kathy Newlands ’89 earned her undergraduate degree in marketing from the School of Business and served as a member of IC’s Board of Trustees for the past four years. Cornish thanked her for offering “that same energy, endurance and leadership” as a trustee that she showed on campus as a track and cross-country runner, noting that it continued the legacy of stewardship shown by her in-laws.
“The giving spirit we saw in Evelyn and Bill is not only reflected but magnified in Bill and Kathy.” she said, as Bill smiled in appreciation.
“We're particularly happy and proud to create this endowment on behalf of our family, and we hope that future Bombers can still have lots of the great experiences that Kathy had, that I had, and that my dad had during our time here,” said Bill in response.
The proud son told Cornish and others from the campus community who attended the May dedication that his parents met at their Long Island high school and were married 64 years.
“Their love story is now part of our story,” Cornish said.
Back when IC was still downtown, the elder Bill worked his way through college at Coxie’s Diner (just behind today’s Ithaca Commons), in part because at the end of every shift the owner allowed him to make himself a sandwich for his next day’s lunch.
“Coach Bill Newlands represented the best of the tradition of educator coaches produced by Ithaca College, and as a member of the Class of 1950, he helped to establish that proud reputation.”
Susan Bassett '79, director of athletics
After graduating as a four-year varsity baseball and basketball player, he went on to serve in the U.S. Army and to play minor league baseball. He later became a champion high school baseball, wrestling and golf coach.
“Coach Bill Newlands represented the best of the tradition of educator coaches produced by Ithaca College, and as a member of the Class of 1950, he helped to establish that proud reputation,” said Susan Bassett '79, associate vice president and director of intercollegiate athletics and campus recreation.
“Hearing Bill talk about his dad as an athlete, coach and teacher gave me great joy, and without knowing Coach Newlands, I understood him,” said Bassett, also an IC graduate, “because we all walked the same path of professionalism, commitment and passion in our preparation here at Ithaca College.”
Director of athletics Susan Bassett '79 (left) called the gift by the Newlands “a huge transformative opportunity.”
Director of athletics Susan Bassett '79 (left) called the gift by the Newlands “a huge transformative opportunity.”
“Bill and Evelyn's bequest to the college to establish the first endowment for support of Ithaca College athletics ensures that the legacy of excellence lives on. We will steward the funds from the endowment to enhance the educational experience of future Ithaca College student-athletes for perpetuity,” Bassett said.
She called the gift “a huge transformative opportunity,” one that is a fitting testament to the love and generosity that they each gave to every community they shared. The couple spent countless hours volunteering in Addison, New York, and in retirement, they moved outside Phoenix, Arizona, where they again built their lives around family, faith, art, sports and volunteerism.
“So we thank Bill and Kathy for building their own legacy of support and generosity for the college and for our community,” Cornish said, turning toward Bill. “And we remember with admiration and honor your father and mother, who will remind us for all time that we can spread the seeds of love while we are alive but the fruits of our compassionate labor can last forever.”