Hewitt inducted into hall of fame
He’s been an All-American college football player, a U.S. Navy commander, an engineer, a financial officer and a tuba player. And throughout his life, John Francis Hewitt Sr. has been a winner and a survivor, thanks mainly to the guidance of his parents. “My parents always had constant faith and confidence in me, and pride in my endeavors,” Hewitt, a native of North Belle Vernon now living in Port Orchard, Wash., said. “They stressed that academics form the basis of a successful life and sports build camaraderie, team player values and character. My mother told me, ‘Shoot for the stars and you will reach the moon.’ That has stuck with me all these years.”
Hewitt, 69, a 1957 graduate of Bellmar High School, was one of eight individuals inducted into the Mid Mon Valley All Sports Hall of Fame Friday.
Hewitt’s path to success in athletics and in the classroom at Bellmar was opened by “parental
pressure,” he recalled poignantly in reference to his late parents, Charles and Margaret Simms Hewitt. The elder Hewitt was an engineer with Monessen Southwestern Railroad at Pittsburgh Steel Co., and John’s mother was a teacher until she married and began raising a family.
“They emphasized to me so many times, ‘If you want to play sports all (your) grades must be above a C,'” Hewitt said. “Getting a C was not allowed.”
That mandate motivated Hewitt so much that he was ranked third in his graduating class at Bellmar.
Constant encouragement from his parents and coaches have remained firm in Hewitt’s heart and soul over the years and has played an important role in his most recent challenge of life. He is a cancer survivor.
“Coach Bap Manzini was such an influence during my high school days,” Hewitt said of the legendary football coach who died May 9 at age 87. “His confidence in me, helping me build my leadership skills and self-esteem, were a major factor in my life. I valued his never-wavering support of my endeavors at the Naval Academy.”
Football coach Wayne Hardin of the U.S. Naval Academy built on the foundation provided by Manzini. “His words of encouragement continued to build my confidence in being a captain on that team and being a contributing team player in any endeavor,” Hewitt said of Hardin.” His words of ‘Never give up until the game is over’ have inspired me throughout my life and continue to inspire me as I fight to remain a successful cancer survivor.”
Retiring with the rank of lieutenant commander after a distinguished 21-year military career, Hewitt went to work as an engineer for a Navy contractor that supports the U.S. Navy.
Hewitt’s last 10 years of employment were as a residential loan officer for an independent mortgage broker in Silverdale, Wash.
“My throat cancer surgery and resulting radiation treatment resulted in an inability to work in this field any longer, so I went into retirement,” he recalled. “I’m fully retired and loving it. My wife and I are avid gardeners and we wonder how we ever found time to work.”
Hewitt and his wife, the former Trena Hage, met when they were members of the Bremerton Business and Professional Singles Club of Bremerton, Wash.
“We dated for two years,” Mrs. Hewitt said, adding that she became John’s caregiver when he
became ill with cancer. They married on Oct. 5, 1997, “after his treatment was completed and he was back on his feet.”
Their marriage created an extended Brady Bunch style family, as each is the parent of three children.
John’s family ties to the Mon Valley include his brother, Charles Hewitt, and sister, Zeta Morgan and her husband William, all of Belle Vernon. His sister Lavina McClain resides in San Jose, Calif, while two other siblings, Penny Kerr and Thomas Hewitt, are deceased. His cousin, Jake Hewitt, and nephews Lee Hewitt, Tommy Hewitt and Jimmy McClain, also live in Belle Vernon.