April 30, 1939 – October 04, 2022
at the age of 83 years:     

Philip Geoffrey Newell passed away peacefully at his home on October 4th, 2022 at the age of 83. Geoff is survived by Bärbel, with whom he was happily married to for 59 years. He is also survived by his three loving children Nick (Jan), Heidi (Lance) and Andrew (Veronique) as well as his four grandchildren Victor, Kimberly, Miranda and Blake.

Geoff was born on April 30th, 1939 to Tom and Dorothy Newell in Liverpool, England. After graduating from Ormskirk Grammar School, he entered the School of Medicine at the University of Liverpool and earned his medical licence in 1962. Geoff met Bärbel while she was visiting a friend in England and they married the next year on February 8th, 1963. The couple emigrated to Edmonton, Alberta on January 31st, 1965 before finally settling in Salmon Arm in 1968. Geoff held a medical practice in the community for 43 years before retiring in 2011.

Geoff was an avid and accomplished sportsman. He played many sports in his youth including rugby and cricket before discovering his passion for the game of golf. Geoff was a skilled amateur golfer and won numerous tournaments in the area as well as enjoying the game recreationally with his family and many friends. Geoff was also a professional photographer. He specialized in sports photography, often contributing his photos of horse-riding competitions and junior hockey games to the local newspapers. Geoff was also very active in the community including billeting junior hockey players and volunteering as the local junior hockey team’s medical doctor. Notably, Geoff also started the local drug and alcohol program that eventually became the model for BC’s government program.

Geoff had a wonderful sense of humour often entertaining friends and family with limericks and songs that he learned in his youth. He will be remembered as caring and humble, intelligent and thoughtful, and always generously helping others. He will be dearly missed by his family, friends, and the community.

A celebration of Geoff’s life will be held on October 22nd starting at 11:30am. Space is limited at the venue during the ceremony. If you are interested in attending please email DrNewell83@gmail.com with your first and last name and the number of guests that would like to attend. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in the name of Dr. Geoff Newell to the Shuswap Hospital Foundation at: Shuswaphospitalfoundation.org       Phone: (250) 803-4546

There once was a bright doctor from Britain
Who married a frau with whom he was smitten
With great skill he played golf often with his wife
‘Til he sank a long putt on the last day of his life
And his heart exclaimed “my last verse has been written”