MONTICELLO — More than 200 family, friends and neighbors ‘showed up’ on Sunday afternoon at the Joseph N. Garlick Funeral Home in Monticello to mourn the loss of Marvin Newberg, well-known attorney and community member.

And that was the common theme of Newberg’s life – showing up and being there for others.

“I thought of one word to describe Marvin – and that was devotion,” his widow, Janet Newberg, said during the funeral service. “He was devoted to me, to our family, to his family of clients, to our neighbors and to our community.

“The meaning of devotion is love, loyalty and enthusiasm,” Janet said. 

And Marvin certainly checked all the boxes.

Whether he was showing up for the Rabbi when he asked him to attend Minyan, driving two hours to New York City to watch his granddaughter in ‘a 14-minute play,’ or playing in 42 straight Sullivan County Democrat Golf Tournaments, Marvin was always there.

“He was a man of great strength and commitment and had incredible intellectual prowess,” Janet said. “He also had a great sense of humor and could always make me laugh.”

Janet recalled coming home from college at New Paltz and meeting Marvin, who was also home from college, at a party.

After the party, Janet told her friend, “Some day I’m going to marry that man.”

She did, and the couple enjoyed 50 years of marriage, raising two children, Ben and Amanda, who both got married and blessed the couple with three adoring grandchildren and a wonderful son-in-law and daughter-in-law.

Marvin’s son, Ben, recalled his dad as “My best friend, my hero, my dad.

“He always put family first,” Ben said. “And he just wanted to make people laugh.”

While no one knows for sure how Marvin got his great sense of humor, it was surmised it might have happened when he skipped a grade at Fallsburg Central.

Now surrounded by a whole new group of classmates, Marvin “became the class clown,” to make new friends.

That humor never left, and whether it was playing cards with his buddies on Monday night, schooling his friends on the golf course at Lochmor or Tarry Brae, or attending dinner with friends, his dry wit and comedic timing were legendary.

“He was the guy you wanted to sit next to at the dinner party,” his daughter Amanda said. “We all enjoyed his company.”

And while the Newberg family was heartbroken and shocked to lose their rock on his 76th birthday – Thursday, July 31 – “we are not grieving alone,” his daughter said. 

“Being his child was a great gift,” Amanda said. “He was a mensch – a person of integrity and honor.

“He was also a fantastic golfer,” she laughed, as she looked around the funeral home, only to dozens of his golfing buddies shaking their heads in agreement.

In fact, only last Wednesday, Marvin had won his flight in the Club Championship at Lochmor, defeating Mark Brinn.

“He played very well,” Brinn admitted.

And Marvin left a lasting imprint on nearly everyone he met, whether it was providing valuable counsel or showing his support for what you were doing.

Ben remembered the valuable advice his dad once gave him.

“Don’t do what you think I want you to do,” Marvin said. “Do what will make you happy.”

And as Ben’s career hit a highlight, Marvin and Janet were there to cheer him on.

“You got it all, I’m so proud of you,” Marvin told Ben, a reminder of his unwavering love he had for his children.

And daughter Amanda had similar thoughts.

“He had so much love and absolute devotion to my mom. We all should be so lucky,” she said.