John R. Newland, age 69, of Richmond, Indiana, passed away peacefully on [6-16-26] with his partner, Doug, and his sister, Debbie, by his side.

Born to Fredonna and "Big John" Newland, both of whom preceded him in death, John grew up proud of his rural roots as a Hoosier. He went on to study at Miami University (Ohio), where he was a dedicated fraternity member, and the University of Cincinnati. John was a man defined by his vision, his intellect, and an innate eye for beauty. From an early age, he possessed a deep love for design and an appreciation for meticulous detail—traits that would come to define his illustrious career and creative life. For years, John quietly navigated private health challenges with immense grace and bravery; protective of those he loved, he never wanted others to worry and always maintained a resilient "I'm great" attitude, even when things weren't.

John's professional journey was nothing short of remarkable. Throughout his life, his career took him to live in Chicago, New York City, and Atlanta, and allowed him to travel the world. These experiences gave him a truly global perspective and allowed him to cultivate countless enduring relationships along the way. Known for his wicked sense of humor, John was a natural magnet in any group and a memorable, engaging speaker at various professional events.

He rose steadily through the ranks of the furniture industry, ultimately serving as the Vice President of Architecture and Design for Herman Miller. Later, channeling his entrepreneurial spirit and love for aesthetics, John opened a highly successful contemporary art gallery in West Michigan alongside his partner of 19 years, Doug McIntosh. A passionate animal lover, John proudly named the gallery after their two beloved dogs, Sydney and Betty, who had beautiful contrasting coats of roan and black—hence the creation of the Roan & Black gallery.

Two years ago, John was "tapped on the shoulder" to re-enter the corporate arena, stepping into the role of President of North America for Green Furniture Concepts, a Swedish company. He threw his whole heart into the position, successfully growing the company and genuinely loving every single moment of the challenge.

Beyond his professional triumphs, John was, above all, a giver. He possessed a rare, brilliant ability to bring out the absolute best in the people around him, lifting others up as he rose. His generosity extended globally; John dedicated several years of his life serving as the Chair for DIFFA (Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS) and passionately working to build schools in Africa. As part of his extraordinary journey, he also had the profound opportunity to collaborate with Jane Goodall and Bono, sharing his talents to make a lasting impact on the world.

To his family, John was a steadfast friend and the ultimate rock. He held a deeply cherished place in the hearts of countless cousins, in-laws, nieces, and nephews who looked up to him and leaned on his strength, wisdom, and warmth. In addition to his human family, he leaves behind his cherished dog, "Hiney" (aka Einstein), and his beloved cat, Parker ("Lil P").

John's legacy of leadership, love, and profound generosity lives on through his partner, Doug; his sister, Debbie, and her partner, Patty; and the vast family, circle of friends, and colleagues he touched around the world.

The family wishes to extend their deepest gratitude to the compassionate staff at Northwestern Hospital and Unity Hospice for their tender care in John's final days.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in John's honor to DIFFA, Unity Hospice, or pawswithacause.org