#21: The Death of His Son, Scott

Perhaps the greatest tragedy of Newman’s life was the death of his son, Scott, in 1978 from an accidental drug and alcohol overdose. Newman had always pushed Scott to find his own path, but Scott struggled under the weight of his father’s towering legacy.

After his passing, Newman was devastated, admitting that he had failed as a father. In Scott’s honor, he founded the Scott Newman Center, dedicated to educating young people about the dangers of substance abuse. Though Newman never fully forgave himself, he turned his grief into action, using his resources to help others avoid the same fate.