Bangor, Maine-Russell Sprague Hewett died in his sleep early Saturday at the Maine Veterans’ Home; he was 88. His wife and best friend for more than 70 years, Marion Ludwick Hewett, predeceased him. The son of Charles G. and Vivian Foss Hewett, grandson of Frank and Bessie Hewett, and brother of the late Elwood G. Hewett, he was born December 27, 1920 and grew up in Rockland, Maine. He graduated from Rockland High School in 1938 where, as a student, he was entrusted to teach mechanical arts during a year when the school was without a shop teacher. He attended Springfield College for one year before enlisting in the Army of the United States in 1940. He served in the Harbor Defenses of Portland and then in the US Army in France before and after the Axis Powers surrendered and finished his service as a master sergeant. He married Marion August 23, 1946. He matriculated in the post-war accelerated program at Bowdoin College and graduated in 1948 but was officially affiliated with the Class of 1950.
Russ lived most of his adult life in Auburn and Winthrop. He worked for five years as a foreman at Bates Manufacturing Company in Lewiston before joining Central Maine Power Company where he worked the remainder of his career. At CMP, Hewett served as a lighting and power engineer in Lewiston before moving to Augusta where he was in Real Estate and Claims and then Manager of Treasury Operations.
The father of Charles Earle Hewett of Holden, Maine, and Martha Jean Hewett of Minneapolis, Minnesota, he spent endless hours playing with and making things for his children and personally expanding and improving his homes as his family grew. When not hosting friends with Marion, he could always be found “tinkering” or “puttering” in his shop. He adored his grandchildren, Elizabeth Kennedy Hewett, Samuel Kennedy Hewett, and Nathaniel Kennedy Hewett, all of Holden, Maine. He and Marion would drop anything to support the grandchildren, whether to attend a concert, play or sports event or to tend to a child who was too sick to go to school.
Russ believed strongly in giving back to the community. He served many years on the Winthrop School Board and chaired two School Building Committees. He also led the Winthrop Planning Board. He was a lay leader of the Winthrop United Church of Christ for many years. In his retirement, he drove many years for “Meals on Wheels” and no person in his community lacked a ride to the doctor’s office if he knew of their need. He was an active member and President of the Winthrop Rotary Club and a 50 year member and Worshipful Master of the Ashlar Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons in Lewiston.
Russ is survived by his son, Charles, his wife Jacqueline, and their children, Elizabeth, Samuel, and Nathaniel; his daughter Martha Hewett and her partner, Linda Varvel; five nephews: Stephen Ludwick of New Hampshire, Gregory Hewett of Vermont, Frederick and David Hewett, both of Massachusetts, and Jeffrey Hewett of Cape Elizabeth; and grandniece Abby Hewett of Massachusetts.
A celebration of life will be held at Gracelawn Memorial Park in Auburn at 11:30 on Saturday. Family and friends are invited to a reception following the service at the Hilton Garden Inn. Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to the Maine Veterans’ Home, 44 Hogan Rd., Bangor, 04401, or to the American Lung Association, 1301 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Suite 800, Washington, DC 20004, www.lungusa.org.
A service of Brookings-Smith, 133 Center St. Bangor.