SSG Daniel Allan Newsome CHICOPEE - SSG Daniel Allan Newsome, 27, of Chicopee, died Wednes-day, June 27th of injuries sustained during the mission supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom in Baghdad, Iraq. Daniel was born in Springfield and raised in Chicopee. Daniel attended Chicopee schools and graduated from Chicopee Comprehensive High School in 1998. Daniel is survived by his wife Karen (Archambault) Newsome, their young son, his parents Eric and Joanne Ritter, his mother-in-law, Jeanne Archambault, all from Chicopee, and his biological father, Flor Fuentes of Springfield. He is also survived by his maternal grandmother, Carmen Breton of Chicopee, four brothers, Damon Ritter of Chicopee, Calvin Ritter of Holyoke, David and Fly Fuentes of Springfield, his brother-in-law, Eric Archambault of Chicopee, and two sisters, Janet Williams of North Carolina, and Florisa Fuentes of Springfield. Daniel was a man of great courage and was devoted to duty, his fellow soldiers, and his country. He was a leader who loved his men and was loved by them. He loved being a soldier. He received many Army awards and citations including the Purple Heart, and The Bronze Star. Dan married Karen, his high-school sweetheart in 2005. It was obvious to all who knew them that theirs was a love that would last a lifetime. Though Dan's life was cut short, that love lives on in Karen's heart. Dan doted on his young son and spent every minute he could with him. He was eager to return home and teach his boy all the things a father teaches a son. Dan was a devoted husband and father, and an outstanding son and brother. Growing up, Dan spent countless days with his mother's family. He developed an especially close bond with his mother's family. He developed an especially close bond with his aunt and uncle, Lorrie and Ken Willette, formerly of Wilbraham, and their sons Jim and J.J. None of Dan'e brothers feel his loss more acutely than do these two of his cousins. Dan made new friends easily and had many of them, especially his oldest and best friend Luke Delaney of Chicopee. To know Dan was to love him, and for all who loved him, a cloud crossed the sun when he died. Those who mourn his loss now bask in the flow of cherished memories. The calling hours will be held on Thursday at the Castle of Knights on Memorial Drive in Chicopee from 9 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. at which time a funeral prayer service will take place. Private burial services with full military honors will take place in the Massachusetts Veterans' Memorial Cemetery in Agawam. Contributions in Dan's memory may be made for the benefit of Dan's young son through the Daniel Allan Newsome Memorial Fund, c/o the Polish National Credit Union, 46 Main St., Chicopee, MA 01020. The Corridan Funeral Home, 333 Springfield St., Chicopee is handling the funeral arrangements.
Published in The Republican on 7/3/2007.