In July, the Near North District School Board announced with great sadness the passing of long-time trustee and former board chair Kathy Hewitt on July 27, 2015. She was 76.
Kathy Hewitt started her service to public education in the 1970s as a parent volunteer at Dr. MacDougall Public School in North Bay. After several years, she joined the former Nipissing Board of Education, and she continued after amalgamation with the Near North DSB. After a brief break following the death of her husband, she returned to the board in the early 2000s, serving as trustee and chair. During these years, her remarkable commitment and dedication to her constituents led the board to nominate her for OPSBA’s Bernardine Jackman Memorial Award, an annual award honouring outstanding service by a public school board trustee. She was also honoured for her commitment and dedication to her community by a North Bay professional women’s association.
Kathy Hewitt is survived by five children (Michael, Jeffery, Patricia Burton, Karen Groulx and Kevin), six grandchildren and a great-grandchild.
