A true gentleman. Devoted husband, loving dad and grandfather, mentor and father figure, and beloved friend Newman Marius Marsilius III passed away on February 19, 2019. He was 72 years old. Born on February 23, 1946, to Newman Marsilius Jr. and Marie Marsilius, in Baltimore, Maryland, Newman lived most of his life in Trumbull, Connecticut and the last 20 years in Newtown, Connecticut. He was an undergraduate of Cornell University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering. He went on to obtain his MBA from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business. After several years with Arthur Andersen, Newman joined his family’s business, the Producto Machine Company, in 1973. Producto had grown rapidly after WWII, primarily serving the special machine tool markets in the automotive and aerospace industries, as well as providing 100% of the gray iron castings for Bridgeport Machines. The 1970s were good years for U.S. machine tool builders, but in 1983, hard times hit the industry, with strong global competition from Germany and Japan. In the late 1980s into the 1990s, the business needed to find new markets and opportunities in order to survive. Down but not out, Newman had something to prove to himself. His perseverance and entrepreneurship prevailed. In 1993, he formed a new company by purchasing the assets of the Moore Special Tool Company and combining them with the Producto Machine Company. The new organization, PMT Group, included two main operating companies: Producto Corporation (today, doing business as Ring Precision, located in Jamestown, NY, and Dieco, located in Cleveland, OH) and the newly renamed Moore Tool Company (located in Bridgeport, CT). In 1997, Newman and a professional colleague formed Moore Nanotechnology Systems (located in Keene, NH). Newman worked tirelessly to lead the business. He truly appreciated everyone who worked hard and dedicated themselves to their craft and to the company. His vision for these businesses—to be the leading global supplier of manufacturing equipment, tooling, software, and process solutions to the ultra-precision electro-optical and the high-precision die and mold markets—will continue to live on through the people and teams Newman helped develop and nurture. Newman’s commitment to excellence extended beyond business to his family and to his community. He served on several boards, including, most importantly, as a trustee and the chairman of Bridgeport Hospital, a trustee for the Bridgeport Hospital Foundation, and a trustee for the Yale New Haven Health Services Corporation.
He cherished being a part of the Yale New Haven Health System and working with his fellow colleagues on the significant challenges of providing affordable and effective healthcare. He was also a long-standing member of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s MPE Technical Advisory Committee. He was a past president and director of the American Society for Precision Engineering, and he served as a director of the European Society for Precision Engineering and Nanotechnology. Newman never stopped learning from people or the experiences that life presents. He had a way of letting you personally know his satisfaction without making it contrived or overbearing. He always handled himself in a measured and professional way, even in negative circumstances. He will be missed by many. He is survived by his loving wife, Sandra Shadle Marsilius, and sons, Newman Marius Marsilius IV and daughter-in-law Jennifer and Christian Barnette Marsilius and daughter-in-law Jen, as well as his grandchildren, Chase Newman Marsilius, Morgan Marie Marsilius, and Maxwell Alejandro Marsilius. He is also survived by his three younger sisters, Diane Nicholls and husband Robert, Barbara Link, and Kathy Bourque; an uncle, Philip Marsilius; two cousins Norman Marsilius and James Powers; a brother-in-law, Jack Shadle; and several nieces and nephews, including Kim Duggins, Scott Shadle, Todd Shadle, William Barendse, Peter Barendse, Andrew Bourque, Dana Bourque, and Alexa Bourque. Calling hours will be held Wednesday, February 27, from 4:00p.m. to 8:00p.m., in the Redgate – Hennessy Funeral Home, Main Street and Gorham Place, Trumbull. A service will follow on Thursday, February 28, at 11:00a.m., meeting directly in Easton Congregational Church. 336 Westport Rd, Easton, with the Rev. Amanda Ostrove, Pastor, officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that any memorial contributions be made to the Bridgeport Hospital Foundation, 267 Grant St, Bridgeport, CT 06610. To send online condolences please visit, www.redgatehennessy.com
