The Story of Helen Newsom and Karl Behr
Helen Monypeny Newsom was born into an affluent family in Columbus, Ohio, in 1892. Her father, Logan Conway Newsom, worked in real estate, and her mother, Sarah “Sallie” Monypeny, was the cousin of the 1912 Ohio governor, Judson Harmon.
Helen’s father passed away in 1901, leaving her mother to care for two children under 15. In 1903, Sallie remarried Richard Beckwith of New York.
Sallie was ambitiously optimistic about Helen’s future, but young love threatened her vision. Karl Howell Behr was a Lawrenceville and Yale-educated attorney. He was also a top-ranking American tennis player, winning the intercollegiate doubles title in 1904, playing in the National Championship All-Comer’s final in 1906, and participating in the 1907 Davis Cup team. And he had caught Helen’s attention.
Helen and Karl were smitten. Sallie grew anxious that their mutual affection would steer Helen away from the path she was carefully paving for her daughter. Looking for a distraction, Sallie and stepfather Richard whisked Helen away for a grand tour of Europe. Perhaps, Sallie thought, seeing the wonders of the world would open her daughter’s eyes to greater possibilities.
Upon hearing the news his sweetheart would board Titanic, Karl organized a business trip to join the voyage and secretly continue their courtship. Unbeknownst to Sallie and stepfather Richard, all four of them booked their return passage on the Titanic as First Class passengers. Helen and Karl kept their plan and contact confidential, shocking her parents after they had boarded in Southampton and when Karl stepped onto the Ship in Cherbourg. While it’s not known if Helen and Karl were able to steal away any secret moments on board the Ship, it was clear to Helen’s mother and stepfather that her affection for Karl was profound.
When the time came to evacuate, Helen, Sallie, Richard, Karl, and a few acquaintances were some of the fortunate few to find spots in a lifeboat early on. Lifeboat 5 was the second boat lowered on the starboard side of the Ship, and many passengers, not sensing the imminent danger, were hesitant to leave the massive, brightly lit Titanic for a wooden dinghy in the dark.
Less than a year after their rescue, Helen Monypeny Newsom and Karl Howell Behr were married with the approval of Sallie, who warmed to the idea after their joint experiences on Titanic. The couple had four children: Karl, Peter, James, and Sally. Karl pursued a career in banking and continued to play tennis, ranking in the US Top 10 seven times between 1906 and 1915.
Karl passed away in 1949. At the time of his death, he was a director of the Interchemical Corporation, the Behr-Manning Corporation of Troy, N.Y., and the Witherbee Sherman Corporation.
Helen later married a close friend and tennis partner of Karl, Dean Mathey. She maintained a passion for travel throughout her life. She was involved in multiple organizations, including the Stepney Champ Committee, the Colony Club New York, the Present Day Club, and the Princeton Garden Club. She passed away in 1965 at the age of 72.
