Steve Newcombe's Story About Attending Robert Redford's Party for Paul Newman

Posted: February 20, 2026

Steve Newcombe wrote:

Here is the story about the party for Paul Newman. It needs some background, but here goes. Timeframe Spring 74.

I had been putting my best moves on a lovely young co-ed in Salt Lake City. She was strangely immune to my charms, but she invited me to help with an environmental "thing" down in Provo, so I packed a duffle and got on the bus. We spent the next day knocking on doors, collecting signatures and marching in a modest little parade. At the end, a local TV truck pulled up, followed by a somewhat ratty Porsche 911. When Redford got out the crowd went wild. He really was a good looking guy.

He gave an intelligent, comprehensive, and articulate speech about the dangers facing our environment and what we needed to do to fight back. I had not paid much attention to the issue before that, but I have since become an ardent tree hugger. Afterward he came by to thank everyone and shook hands all around. When he got to me he stopped, smiled and said, "I know you, you're Burt Reynolds". We laughed at the shared memory. He said "I'm having a belated birthday party for a friend of mine, why don't you stop by."

Suddenly, I felt an arm circle mine. It was the lovely co-ed with the perfect hair and perfect teeth. She said "Can I come too?"  Bob said "Sure" with a smile.  I said "Sweetheart, not in a million years." I grabbed my duffle and headed for the door. I never saw her again.

Bob lived in a very nice but not fancy house at the ski resort he owned up Provo canyon. Originally called Timp Haven it was a small place with 5 lifts, mostly greens and blues with one nice wall of blacks. When he bought it, he renamed it Sundance for some unknown reason.

The party was mostly friends and locals and a few industry folks. I met his wife Lola and his older daughter Shauna.  Lots of animated conversations about mundane topics. When the doorbell rang. Bob grabbed a Bud from the fridge and asked me to give it to the birthday boy.

When I opened the door, I saw an instantly familiar face, Joanne Woodward. I told her that she was my mother's favorite actress and that she would be thrilled to hear that I had met her. I then turned to her husband, Paul Newman, and gave him the Bud saying Happy Birthday. With a wry grin he said "my birthday is in January, you ass kisser" and walked on by.

Lola had heard what I said to Joanne and she suggested that I call my mom and tell her the news. I said that my mom lived in Florida and that the long distance charges would be killer. Bob said "don't worry pal, I make a good living, call your mom." The two women talked for well over an hour. From then on, I was my mom’s most famous son, my brothers fancy law degree shrinking almost to nothing.

The party continued apace with lots of laughs and plenty of witty repartee between the two stars who obviously respected and admired each other tremendously. At one point "Mr Newman" handed me a Bud and said "don't worry sport, I'm her biggest fan too". It was night to remember, so I did.

I saw Bob again the following spring. He had just had a premiere in NYC of his latest film, “The Great Waldo Pepper". He held a private showing in Salt Lake City for friends and family. It was an exciting but somewhat sad movie about WWI fighter pilots who were reduced to barnstorming around the Midwest staging mock dogfights. The aerial photography was spectacular. Bob flew his own plane, of course. Tom Cruise, eat your heart out.

I did not get to talk to Bob that much, since he had many demands on his time. But I did get to meet the "Lust of my Life”, a luscious red head called Mary Beth. But that's a story for another time. Or perhaps not.

Steve

Steve Newcombe's 2016 Class Note

Posted: October 17, 2025

Robert Redford (1936-2025) was a prominent Hollywood actor in our day. You may recall some of his movies from across the years, like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Sting, The Way We Were, and All Is Lost.

Our NMH classmate Steve Newcombe had a remarkable encounter with Redford that he wrote about in his class note submission in 2016. We are reposting Steve's note here to make it more accessible. It's a great story!!!!

MH Class Notes December 2016, Posted by Bob Eastman (Esty)

Steve Newcombe wrote: 

It's been snowing here in Oregon for a couple of days and the skiers are delighted.  I don't ski anymore, but it used to be my passion.  Back in the 70's, I was stationed in Utah and I spent weekends sharing a friends floor up in Park City.  One week, I was there on leave, skiing every day. I finished a run and got on the next chair.  It was one of the original "quad" chairs and if two people rode up alone, you had to sit at each end or it would wobble like crazy.  The blond haired guy on my right looked like a mountain man with a long red beard, heavy gloves, huge goggles and he was covered in snow. We got to talking and I thought I recognized his voice.  I very subtly gawked at him for awhile and then blurted out,  "Hey, you're Robert Redford". He was so thrilled to finally know who he was, that he invited me to shut up for the rest of the ride.  We actually did make three or four really good runs that afternoon, so we decided to sneak in a couple of brews at the lodge.  He doesn't like being recognized so he kept on all his gear as we snuck up to the lounge. Some woman, however, stopped dead in her tracks and looked at me and asked if that was Redford.  I said "Hell no, lady, but I did just see Burt Reynolds go into the ski shop".  She wheeled like a champion and was off like a shot.  "Bob" bought the drinks. Our paths crossed several times during those wonderful 70s and 80s, but that's a story for another time.

NMH Class of 1964 Facebook Group!

Updated: October 17, 2025

Karen Deitemeyer is overseeing and managing the NMH Class of 1964 Facebook Group!  

The group has 102 members!  Click here to see the latest news, pictures and stories submitted by classmates. 

Thank you Karen!

How to access your messages on the NMH Class of 1964 website

Updated: October 17, 2025

Several classmates have recently asked how to access the email thread for messages they have sent or received on our website.

Here are the steps:

Make sure you are signed in - you need to enter your name and password.

Then click on the little person icon (it’s a torso) in the upper right corner of your main page. It looks like this:

From the drop-down menu, select Message Center, then select the outgoing or incoming email you want to see.

This should give you access to your entire message thread (sent, received, etc.).

You can also send a new message from the Message Center.

If you have any issues, please feel free to use the Contact Us function and let us know! 

Looking back... Reunion 2024

Posted: July 13, 2024

To those of you who didn't attend our 60th Reunion, we missed you, and you missed a wonderful opportunity to reconnect and make new friends. The weekend was full of sunshine, laughter and remembrances. We were 39 strong, plus spouses and partners and in Sara Jane SImon Stevens's case two amazing sons. Despite a full schedule planned by the school, we were able to carve out time to be with each other - at meals, in our "lounge" over drinks or walking about campus. We got to sing Jerusalem and the Northfield Benediction at least twice.

Connie Putnam arranged for his band to play for our class and anyone who wanted to join us on Saturday night in a more intimate setting than the big tent in front of Gilder. By the evening's end it was packed and the music was just what we all needed. The Round Top Remembrance gathering was especially moving, with shares from the heart by classmates of those we've lost. Numerous classmates have told us it was the best reunion ever. There will be an encore in 5 years, and we hope you'll join us then! 

The 1964 Reunion Committee

Photos from the Reunion - Updated July 15, 2024 with photos of the full reunion organizing committee - see below

Our Facebook page has a great collection of reunion photos, thanks to Marcia Congdon and Peter Weston! Below is a short selection. Please visit the Facebook page to see more! Thank you to Karen Deitemeyer for hosting our Facebook group!

Classmates gather at Round Top for our remembrance service and reading of the names.

Hanging out together in our lounge in Crossley

Connie Putnam and friends play Chicago blues

We dance

Peter Guild receives well deserved alumni award

At the buffet in Alumni Hall (formerly West Hall)

Eating together

On the steps of the Chapel

Reunion committee members: Pam Walton, Marcia Congdon, Bob Sparks, Weegee Brooks; Dave Mensel, Karen Deitemeyer and Don Powell (see photos below). 

Thank you to everyone who could attend reunion and to all our classmates for your continuing support!!!