Grace (Gay) Gibson Newcomer, 96, of Westport Point, passed away peacefully at Saint Anne's Hospital on Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025, surrounded by family and friends. She was the former wife of the late Sam H. Newcomer of Westport Point.
Gay was born in Brattleboro, Vt., on April 21, 1929, the second of four children of the late Ernest W. Gibson Jr and Dorothy Pearl (Switzer) Gibson. Gay earned a Bachelor of Arts from Vassar College in 1951 and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Wesleyan University in 1968.
In addition to raising five children, Gay had an active career in education. She helped launch Head Start in Middletown, Conn., was a civil rights advocate in the '60s, taught in elementary schools, and was a professor of English at Middlesex Community College in Connecticut and Westchester Community College (WCC) in New York. Gay believed firmly and unwaveringly in the importance of phonics in teaching reading, as her WCC colleagues (and everyone who knew her!) will attest.
Gay's family are grateful for her love of poetry and beautiful singing voice. She memorized and recited poems, including from A.A. Milne and Robert Frost. We often heard her singing around the house. Singing together continues to be a family tradition.
After retiring to Westport Point in 1998, Gay was active in Westport town politics, serving on the Westport Cable Advisory Board and volunteering time tutoring area residents in foundational reading skills.
Her grandfather, Ernest W. Gibson Sr., was a United States Senator who passed away in office in 1941. Gay's father, Ernest W. Gibson, Jr., was appointed to serve out the remainder of his term and then joined the Army. Returning from World War II as a war hero, Ernest Jr. was elected governor of Vermont in 1946.
Among Gay's retirement hobbies was curating a collection of historical information and memorabilia about her father, grandfather, and related individuals.
Gay spent summers at Westport Point since the early 1960s – wrestling vines, swimming, reading and talking with good friends at the beach, while also watching the kids, baking amazing pies to share with friends and family, square dancing, and joining the annual Labor Day picnic. She treasured her time with her extended family and many friends in the area, and hosted an annual summer reunion at her Westport Point property.
She attended both the United Methodist Church in Westport Point and St. Andrew's by the Sea Episcopal Church in Little Compton, where she sang in the choir. She also sang with the Greater Tiverton Community Chorus for many years. Before retiring to Westport Point, she attended Old Greenwich Congregational Church, where she also sang in the choir.
Gay leaves behind her children: Eric Newcomer and wife Nadine Zubenko of New York City; Ariana Lise Newcomer of Westport Point, Kirsten Newcomer and husband James Horton of Bedford, Mass., Tor Newcomer and wife Janet of Westport Point, Anders Newcomer and wife Jennifer of Westport Point.
Gay was grandmother to Erica Newcomer of Wilmington, Mass., Alex Newcomer of Londonderry, N.H., Jason Smidt and Morgan Smidt of Santa Cruz, Calif., Blake Newcomer of Philadelphia, Pa., Niklola Newcomer of Somerville, Mass., Dustin Plant of Pawtucket, R.I., Sage Newcomer of Westport Point, and Emma Newcomer of Westport Point. She was great-grandmother to Craig Beausoleil and Eva Beausoleil of Wilmington, Mass.
Gay was predeceased by her siblings, Ernest W. Gibson III, Robert Gibson, and David Gibson. She is also survived by sisters-in-law Jeannine Nield, Charlotte Gibson, and Nancy Turgeon, as well as many beloved nieces and nephews.
A celebration of Gay's life will be held Feb. 7, 2026 at 1 P.M. at the Potter Funeral Home.
Visitation will be February 7, 2026 from 11:30A.M.-1P.M., prior to the celebration of life.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Westport River Watershed Alliance https://www.westportwatershed.org/, The Vermont Historical Society https://vermonthistory.org/ or Planned Parenthood https://www.plannedparenthood.org