Charles Newman and Jane Dawkins
Community Heroes
In Paradise for Good - January 24, 2019 and August 4, 2022
Jane Dawkins was born on May 28, 1945 in Palestine, grew up in England, and immigrated to the U.S. in early adulthood. A lifelong animal lover and a vegetarian way before you could find tofu at Publix, in her early adult life she worked at Occidental Petroleum, RCA Victor, Windows on the World in the World Trade Center in New York City and started her own business “Proper Puddings” selling traditional English Christmas puddings that were lauded as “excellent” by Marion Burros of the New York Times. She first came to Key West in the 70’s, fell in love, and decided she would one day live here. Jane was a serious opera buff, an avid gardener, and an accomplished visual artist across a variety of media.
Chuck Newman was born on March 5, 1946 in Queens, New York. He was a dyed -in-the-wool hippie who attended Woodstock, hitchhiked across the country several times, and also loved fine food and wine. He put himself through college in psychology at CUNY and CW Post on Long Island and had a 40+ year career at the New York Office of People with Developmental Disabilities, helping his clients to gain greater independence and be treated with dignity. He taught himself how to build and fix computer hardware and software, running a successful IT business called “Beta Projections.”
In the early 90’s Chuck and Jane met in upstate New York and fell in love, living for several years together in the Hudson Valley. In the early 2000’s Chuck took early retirement and he and Jane pursued their dream of living in Key West, settling into their first home on Petronia Street. Jane blossomed into an artistic force. writing five books: two continuations of Jane Austen’s novel Pride and Prejudice, two regency-era romances and a “Romance for Grown -ups” called If You’re Ever in Key West. She worked as a visual artist in ceramics, mosaic, sculpture, jewelry, knitwear and exhibited around town, at the Studios of Key West, and at the FKSPCA shelter. Jane joined the FKSPCA board in 2007 and served as president from 2009 to 2019. She carried the organization through the capital campaign to build the new shelter and was instrumental in the success of its life-saving mission. Meanwhile, Chuck was Jane’s entrepreneurial half, helping place her books, get her signings, and encouraging her to show her art and use her voice on behalf of the shelter. The spine of his last several years was his work as Assistant Publisher at the e-book publishing company, “Absolutely Amazing E-Books” with Shirrel Rhodes and Albert Kelley.
Chuck passed away after a long battle with COPD and after 18 years on the island he loved on January 24, 2019. He was a lover of Hawaiian shirts, wearing Birkenstocks to formal functions, and calling it like he saw it. During the pandemic years, Jane developed a taste for cards, holding her own in many a canasta game and always collecting the queens, and was a founding member of the activist group, Reimagining Key West. She lived her life with wit, elegance, style, eloquence, and a fierce ethic of care. After a battle with cancer, she passed away on August 4, 2022.
Chuck and Jane decided to fund an endowment at the Community Foundation of the Florida Keys through their estate, benefiting the Florida Keys SPCA. They wanted to make an enduring contribution back to this island, and the FKSPCA, both of which they loved so much.
Thank you, Jane and Chuck, for Leaving a Legacy in Key West and the Florida Keys.