Michael J. New

NEW, AGGEN, EPSTEIN, SEXSMITH, SAWYER

Posted By: Tara (email)
Date: 7/3/2009 at 10:58:46

Michael J. New, 63, former president of The University of Iowa Foundation, died of cancer April 9, 2006, at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, surrounded by his family.

Michael New was born July 12, 1942 in Chicago, Ill., the son of H. W. and Phyllis New, and grew up on the family’s farm near Nevada, Iowa. He attended The University of Iowa, where he earned two degrees: a B.A. in journalism and mass communication in 1964, and an M.A. in sociology in 1967. He served as president of Delta Chi fraternity during his senior year at the UI. He married fellow UI student Mary B. Aggen on November 13, 1965; the couple recently celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary.

His distinguished career with the UI Foundation began in 1976, following previous positions as Executive Coordinator for the Friends of Iowa Public Television in Des Moines (1973-74), and with the UI College of Medicine as Assistant Coordinator of the Iowa Regional Medical Program. Michael served as the Foundation’s Associate Director of Development for the UI’s health colleges from 1976 to 1985. He was named Vice President for Development Programs in 1985 and after a nationwide search was selected to succeed Darrell Wyrick as President of the UI Foundation in 1998. He served in this capacity until September 2005, when his health required him to step down from active leadership of the organization. He was subsequently named Chief Development Officer, a position he held until his death.

Michael’s accomplishments in his nearly 30-year career with the UI Foundation were numerous and his impact was profound, garnering recognition from peer institutions and professional organizations across the country for the Foundation’s quality, integrity, and productivity. In calendar year 2005, Michael led the Foundation staff to another record-breaking performance, achieving more than $200 million in gifts and gift commitments from nearly 68,000 contributors. Perhaps his greatest achievement was the successful completion of the University’s seven-year (1999-2005) Good. Better. Best. Iowa campaign – the largest such campaign in Iowa history – which passed its $1 billion fund-raising goal by more than $58 million.

Admired for his quick wit, humility, and deep commitment to the Iowa City community, Michael was an avid reader and music lover. He enjoyed travel, especially annual vacations with Mary to South Florida, an area he had visited since childhood. In recent years, the couple also traveled to Ireland, where Michael reconnected with his Irish heritage.

Michael is survived by his wife, Mary; daughter Jennifer New, her husband Andrew Epstein, and their children, Isabella and Tobias Epstein, and mother-in-law Myra Aggen, all of Iowa City; his mother, Phyllis New, of Port Charlotte, Florida; and brother Casey New of Middleton, Wisc., and sister Miriam Sexsmith of Vernon, British Columbia. He is preceded in death by his father, H. W. New, and grandparents, Beatta and Floyd Sawyer.