My uncle, Darrel Newell, passed away today in Arizona after fighting an infection he came down with Sunday. He was 65 (give or take a year) and the thing I most remember about him was his genius. He did such a variety of things during his working career, and managed to become the expert at all of them it seemed. We would always go to Darrel’s house for Thanksgiving growing up, and I remember the times talking to him about his latest passion. I remember going to a piano concert he had written – I don’t remember how old I was, probably 7-10 or so. He was dressed in a tux and I remember my mom being amazed (a piano & music teacher) at what he had put together.
I also remember checking out the stage lighting system he had in his house. I believe he was one of the first to computerize lighting systems for stages, and I don’t remember what bands were using them, but I know I was impressed at the time.
Later on, he moved into the IT world and became an expert in document management (scanning, retention) who flew around the country to help customers better manage their documents.
He was also the family historian – he had researched our family’s history back to arriving in America in 1634. He sent me all the information he had, and I’ve spent many hours trying to add on to the exhaustive work that he’s done, and for all my effort, I don’t believe I uncovered anything he didn’t already know. He was the one who compelled me to visit the New England Historical Society and the Newell Cemetery in Massachusetts when we vacationed there two years ago. The visit to the cemetery was one of the highlights of my trip because we got to see the final resting places of ancestors born as early as 1704.
Darrel also wrote short stories, designed web sites, learned about cars – there was pretty much nothing that fell outside of his realm of interest. He had a website at darrelnewell.com which has some of his interesting work.
I’m sure there are lots more stories I’m not aware of and I hope to hear more in the next few days. He is survived my his mother (Grandma Sady), his wife Linda, his son Michael and daughter Meghan and his brothers Ron and Norm.
Eric's space 
Greetings from Tacoma Washington. I had a friend a long time ago, for a few years we stayed connected, but then loat track… long before computers. I am pretty certain that would have been your uncle Darrel and his wife Linda. They lived in North Tacoma and he had 2 Ferarri\’s in various stages of disrepair.. I did have the joy of driving one eventually…if I recall correctly they had a mini cooper as an everyday car, which was snug with 4 adults. This would have been 1970-1972 I believe. I was travelling one summer (1972 I think)as they were moving \’back\’ to Minnesota… visited with them, I think, in Albequerque, and then again in Minnesota. We had some really fun times in Tacoma and then I did visit them in Minnesota a few years later… I think the last time I saw him was in Tacoma; he was visiting here for some reason… at a band concert in the park… probably 1985ish…I was recently in Minneapolis as I am quite often, and was thinking of them and decided to try to locate them online… I had looked in the phone books over the years, but had no luck… and I am still struggling with computer skills,… but I found this site and thought I would like to get on board at some point.As I recall the time, it must have been only about 2 years, but I have thoughts of many good times together… I would stop by their home and Darrel would be playing the piano… as soon as I came in or knocked, he would stop, so I started just sitting on the front porch and listening… he was a very accomplished pianist.