Jeffrey Searles Hewes, age 74, succumbed on August 6 after a 14-year battle with a rare disease, metastatic leiomyosarcoma of the retroperitoneum. He died at home in Holliston, MA with his family around him.
Born in Portland, Maine on November 25, 1950, Jeffrey grew up in Gorham, Maine with his grandparents, parents, and two siblings, a sister Christine and brother Mark. Ever the innovator, he showed a passion for machines and electronics at an early age, taking an alarm clock entirely apart at age five, then putting it back together with parts missing, though it still worked. At age 13, during the height of the Cold War, he ran a radio station from his room, calling it “The JSH107.” His family had no idea what was going on until the authorities showed up, complaining his radio signals were interfering with aircraft.
A degree in electrical engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in 1973 launched his career, first in electronic circuitry for fiber optic based medical instruments at Dyonics, then in battery technology at Duracell. There, he designed electronic circuitry for smart rechargeable batteries, earning multiple patents in voltage and battery testing. Jeffrey worked for ten years at Bose Corporation on consumer electronic products. His job took him to East Asia, spawning a love for Chinese culture. He taught himself Mandarin and some Cantonese and could regularly be heard in the basement at 4 AM, practicing his language skills over the internet with Chinese people, many of whom became dear friends.
Jeffrey had a deep respect for nature and following its cues as a guide to life: tread lightly, listen well, and be patient. He enjoyed nature photography, developing his black and white pictures in a walk-in closet, and skin diving off the coast of Massachusetts. He was especially proud of his two sons, Chris (33) and Cameron (31), for their musical accomplishments, never complaining of endless evenings and weekends spent driving them to lessons and performances. Family life meant “dinner at home and homemade” by wife Lynn, with gardening, trail walks with beloved dogs, and treasured vacation adventures in Maine for camping, hiking, boating, and fishing.
He will be missed terribly by devoted wife of 38 years, Lynn Vincent Hewes; sons Chris and Cameron Hewes; sister Christine and husband Norbert Young, Jr.; brother Mark and wife Donna Hewes; their sons Ben and Nathan Hewes; and sister-in-law Leslie Vincent.
A Celebration of Life will take place on Saturday, August 16, at Chesmore Funeral Home, 854 Washington St, Holliston, www.ChesmoreFuneralHome.com Visitation 10-11 AM, Service 11 AM. Black attire not necessary; please wear a favorite color or a color from nature. If interested, donations may be made to the American Institute for Cancer Research, Washington, DC (aicr.org/support).
