Arlene M. Hewitt Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Arlene Hewitt passed away peacefully on February 2, 2022. The daughter of Bessie and Michael Kaplan, she was born in Boston, Massachusetts on October 5, 1930 and grew up in Brookline, Massachusetts with her parents and 2 older brothers, Marvin and Ervin. Arlene graduated in 1952 with a BA in Sociology and Political Science from Bridgeport University. She then earned her Master’s Degree in Social Work from Boston University in 1954. Instead of attending her graduation ceremony on June 6, 1954 she married Melvin (Mel) Hewitt. Arlene and Mel began married life in Waltham, MA and then moved to Stoneham, MA where they lived until 1967. While raising 2 small children, Gary and Jo, Arlene had several social work positions including working as a medical social worker for the Massachusetts Division of Child Guardianship. In 1967, Arlene and her family relocated to Alexandria, Virginia which became her beloved home. She was hired by Alexandria Hospital in 1967 and worked there in many capacities until her retirement in 2002. While working at the hospital, Arlene started the Social Work Department, created the Employee Assistance Program and the Senior Outreach/Senior Health Access programs, directed the Alexandria infant and childhood immunization campaign and developed the alcohol rehabilitation program. She ended her career as Director of Community Affairs. Both during her working career and after her retirement, Arlene served on over 60 community committees and initiatives and was recognized multiple times with various awards and honors. She was honored in the Congressional Record introduced by Congressman James Moran in 2002 for her years of dedicated service; also, in 2002 she was awarded the United Way outstanding service award; she was recognized as an Alexandria Living Legend in 2008 and was honored with the Flora Krause Casey Public Health Award in 2014. Arlene was a problem solver; her favorite saying was from Eleanor Roosevelt - “you must do the thing you think you cannot do.” Arlene and her husband Mel were also world travelers and visited over 50 countries during their 55-year marriage. To her family, she was known as mom, Grandy and Nene…always encouraging and exposing them to new experiences and challenges. Arlene is survived by her two children, Gary Hewitt (Julia) and Joselyn Rochlis (Steven) and her four grandchildren, Andy and Ariana Hewitt and Teddy and Michael Rochlis. Funeral services will be held at Beth El Hebrew Congregation in Alexandria on Sunday, February 6 at 1:30 pm. Interment immediately following at King David Memorial Garden. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Beth El Permanent Endowment Fund (www.bethelhebrew.org) or Neighborhood Health (neighboorhoodhealthva.org).

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Arlene M. Hewitt

October 5, 1930 - February 2, 2022