Lee Hawes

Lee Hawes 88, veteran, educator, writer, and civic activist, died October 7. A resident of Redding for 48 years, he was born in Providence, R.I., February 26, 1924.

His wife of 60 years, Marie Supple Hawes; a son, Lyle B. Hawes; and three daughters and their spouses, Pamela and Kevin Kohn of Newtown, Leslie and Paul Hine of Southbury, and Amy and Scott Spencer of Winston Salem, N.C.; as well as eight grandchildren survive Mr Hawes.

Mr Hawes received his teaching certification from Western Connecticut State University in 1954.

 During World War II he served as a signalman, receiving his training at the University of Chicago. He was awarded two Bronze Stars for participating in the invasions of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. Mr Hawes served as a petty officer aboard the USS Sibley (APA 206). His naval squadron was the first to land occupation troops in Japan at the conclusion of the war. His ship also carried Associated Press photographer Joe Rosenthal, who became famous for his historic picture of the flag raising atop Iwo Jima’s Mount Suribachi.

As an educator he worked in the Westport school system as both a teacher and administrator. He also spent two years in Kaiserslautern, Germany, where he taught in the Dependent Schools under the Department of Defense. He also worked as a part-time history instructor at the University of Bridgeport. Mr Hawes was a life member of the National Association of Education and the Connecticut Educational Association.

Active in community affairs, he served on both the Parks and Recreation Commission and the Commission for the Elderly. He also was a member of the Democratic Town Committee and was active as the institutional representative of the Boy Scouts of America. He was president of the Association of Religious Communities (ARC), an ecumenical social service organization serving Danbury and surrounding towns. In addition to these activities, he worked as the editor of the Connecticut United Nations Bulletin, Nutmeg in the World.

Prior to entering the field of education he had served as a cub reporter at the New Haven Register. In retirement he wrote for The Redding Pilot and the Forum on Faith column in the Danbury News Times.

 A member of the Congregational Church in Redding, Mr Hawes was a deacon and was active on various committees involving the life of the church. He also sang in the choir, as music was one of his great passions, both classical and jazz.

There will be no calling hours. A memorial service will take place November 3, at the First Church of Christ Congregational in Redding, at 2 pm. Memorial contributions may be made to the First Church of Christ Congregational, 25 Cross Highway, Redding CT 06896 or The Southern Poverty Law Center, 400 Washington Avenue, Montgomery AL 36104.

The Newtown Bee        October 19, 2012