“Without the dedication of Sharon in the early years, our Chapter would simply not exist.”  

That’s how Ellen Richardson, the second president of ARCS Oregon, describes the legacy of Sharon Hewitt, the first president of ARCS Oregon from 2004 to 2006. Hewitt passed away recently, and chapter members are trying to cope with the loss of a member who was a leader for years but was also willing to spend hours on intricate spreadsheets. “I was there in the trenches with her, and her dedication drove us to make our Chapter strong from the beginning,” Richardson says. 

Past President Jean Josephson remembers Hewitt as a treasurer “who kept tight control of Chapter expenditures” in the early years. “She scrutinized every dollar spent, all the while being exceptionally generous with her time and her money,” Josephson says. “I can hear her voice at board meetings, decrying perceived waste or warning of imprudent governance decisions. The Chapter thrived with her guidance, and her friends and colleagues will miss her greatly.”  

Hewitt was one of the founders of ARCS (then Portland) Chapter in 2002. Her cohorts were Nancy Fischer, Mary Ann Lockwood, Ellen Richardson, and Cornie Stevens, who all shared a connection to OHSU.  

“Sharon was my sponsor for ARCS. I met with her with the intent of saying no, but of course she talked me into it, and I quickly jumped in and continued to never say no,” says longtime ARCS member Kathleen Ames. “Sharon was a force to be reckoned with. She was such a good person.” Ames was in a book club with Hewitt and the club has “been together since our kids were little and in the same school and, like ARCS, she was often the organizer of us,” Ames says. The group has planned time to meet and “celebrate Sharon’s remarkable life.” 

The Chapter honored Hewitt with the ARCS Light recognition in 2007.