Blair Newport - In Memory
Where do I start? The design world go a little less beautiful on Saturday when Blair Newport passed away. He was one of the true gentlemen of the business; when he greeted you with that big smile and said “Hi, I’m Blair Newport”, you just had to smile back knowing that he really meant it, and that you were in for an enjoyable experience. Even up to the last two weeks, he had that great sense of humor and enjoyed all the visitors, calls and letters that he received. In fact, if a man is measured by his friendships, Blair was a great man. The memorial service will be next Saturday at HPPC. I will keep everyone up to date. Please share your memories, thoughts, feelings in the comments below.
12 Comments to “Blair Newport - In Memory”
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I’m proud to say I had the pleasure of working with Blair for the last few years. I’d be surprised if he ever met someone that didn’t become his friend. Peggy was right on- the world is a little less beautiful without him here but I know he left a lot of love behind. He will truly be missed.
It is difficult to comprehend that we have lost such a wonderful man. He is the definition of a “true gentleman”. The design world will not be the same without him.
What an honor it has been for me to have worked with Blair for the past two years. He was quite a presence in the Dallas Design World. Blair had that rare combination of love of outdoors, fishing fine rugs, good red wine, his beloved dogs. 17th century antiques, good jokes, good designers, his employees,and his friends.
Everytime we admire a beautiful piece of antique furniture it will be a little bit of Blair coming thru.
Blair was always such a gentelman with a smile, and knowledge of so many things that far exceeded his years. He was loved by many, and will be missed by all. Our love and prayers surround his family.
What a loss. I’ve known Blair since he was a teenager, working with his DAD, ADDISON, at EC Dicken. He was a wonderful man and a huge addition to our design world.
He was smart, cheerful, straight forward, helpful and fun.
He made the world a better place and he will be remembered.
I had the pleasure of working with Blair for 6 yrs at The Hargett Showrooms. He was such a fine man and had an abundance of knowledge about antiques, rugs,fine furniture, and the entire design world. He was a mentor to me.I learned so much from him.I will miss his jokes, fishing/hunting stories, and seeing all of the photos of his beloved dogs. My thought and prayers go out to Nikki, family, and freinds that all love Blair so much.
I had the great pleasure of working with Blair at EC Dicken and ofcourse at the Newport Collection.
Our Dallas Design world will miss Blair very much. His knowledge of antiques and rugs were abundant. He always had a smile and a welcoming way about him.
Blair and Nikki also took great care of my cousin ,Jerry Abramson, during his illness.Jerry worked with Blair for years.
Jerry and Blair traveled together to Europe to search for the magnificent antiques that fill the Newport Collection.
My thoughts and prayers go out to Nikki and family.
When thinking of Dallas Design, there are a certain few that will always be known as the “Best of the best”. Blair Newport is at the top of that list. His impeccable reputation for honesty and integrity was inherited from his father (Ad Newport, one of the original pioneers in Dallas design). After 27 years, I have never heard an unkind word spoken about Blair. He was respected, admired and trusted by designers, showroom personnel and manufacturers. He was a good friend and loved by so many. Blair will be sorely missed.
I have been pondering over a note to Blair’s sweet wife, since Sunday when I heard the sad news. There are no words to describe what a fine person and friend he was to so many of us in this industry. I knew his father at EC Dicken and later got to know Blair, and had great admiration them both. I will truly miss his smiling face and his great sense of humor. What a huge loss for The Dallas Design District.
My thoughts and prayers are with Nikki, their family, & Blair’s beloved pets.
Our best thoughts to all his family and to the great memory as his shipper to him.
We will keep him in our memory
Jean-Pierre and Emilie URIET
From France
Scott Snider said in tribute to Mark Hampton, “he always got it right,” and that is what immediately comes to mind when I think of Blair. I wish I could have bought every thing that goes into a house from him. His integrity and comfortable perfectionism will live in my memory forever. I will miss him always.
I am so curious to know if this was the same Blair Newport whom I lived next door to for a semester at Arizona State University back in 1980. We became very good pals there before he left back for Texas. If anyone can verify this, it would be appreciated.
Al