My Little City

For nearly five decades, John Newman has been the steady hand ensuring that Peddie’s campus runs smoothly. As director of building services, he has overseen everything from routine maintenance to multimillion-dollar construction projects, shaping the campus into what he affectionately calls “my little city.”

Newman arrived at Peddie in 1976, when he took a part-time janitorial job in the school gym, working evenings while spending his days laboring on local farms and nurseries (Newman, after all, grew up on a farm.) He quickly became indispensable to the athletics department — operating the Zamboni at the old ice rink, distributing uniforms, and maintaining the playing fields and clay tennis courts. Before long, he transitioned into the maintenance department, mastering plumbing, electrical and carpentry work.

As Peddie embarked on ambitious construction projects during the 1980s and ’90s, Newman gained invaluable experience in large-scale campus improvements. By the early ’90s, CFO Charlie Galbraith appointed him director of building services.

Under Newman’s leadership, Peddie’s landscape evolved dramatically. His impact is evident in the construction of the Arts Center, Athletic Center and new dormitories, as well as renovations to faculty housing, athletic facilities and existing dorms. He takes immense pride in Peddie’s growth, saying, “When visitors come and say, ‘Oh my God, this place is unbelievable — nicer than some colleges I’ve seen,’ that means a lot.”

Looking back, Newman credited mentors like Galbraith, former CFO Mike McKitish and current CFO Sanjeev Puri for shaping his career. “I had good mentors,” he reflected. He fondly recalled Peddie’s former daycare facility, which made life easier as a working parent. “I always knew where my kids were,” he said. “I loved being able to pick them up and take them to lunch.” Three of his children would go on to graduate from Peddie.

Despite decades of change, Newman believes Peddie’s core remains the same. “It still has the same values. It’s not a pretentious school. It’s diverse, and I think it produces good-quality students,” he said.

When asked for his favorite spot on campus, his answer was immediate: the maintenance facility. “There’s camaraderie with the guys. The facilities are great — the carpentry shop, wood shop, auto shop.”

As he prepares for retirement, Newman looks forward to tending his 22-acre farm in Pennsylvania, about an hour south of State College, where he grows corn and beans and enjoys hunting.

After nearly 50 years of service, he leaves with quiet pride. “I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished here,” Newman said. “I can go out and feel good about what I’ve done in my lifetime.”