Charismatic. Easy-going. Smart. Funny. These are just a few of the words used by students at Chardon High School to describe their friend Demetrius “D” Hewlin. Demetrius may have passed away, but he will never be forgotten by Chardon High School.
Demetrius attended Maple Elementary school and made an impression on everyone he met. Junior Travis Ritt fondly recalls D defending him from a rock throwing bully at recess. “He always was trying to help people,” Ritt added. When not defending Ritt, it was impossible not to find D playing football at recess, leaving everyone in the dust. D also displayed his intelligence as well, winning the grade-wide geography bee in fourth grade.
The sixth grade trip toHershey, Pennsylvaniais one of middle schoolers’ best times. This reigns true for Demetrius as well. This trip was the first time that D ever drank soda and had caffeine. He downed two pitchers full of Pepsi when we stopped at 7 Springs on the way to Hershey and, to all of our amazement, could not stop giggling. With a laugh and smile, junior Jack LeMaster describes his seventh grade birthday party at a bowling alley, which Demetrius attended. D picked up a six pound ball and tried to throw it as hard as he could down the lane. Instead, his finger got caught in the ball and flew three lanes to the left, knocking down pins in that lane. The boy bowling at that lane began crying and LeMaster’s entire party was kicked out of the bowling alley. “It was a memorable birthday for sure,” laughs LeMaster.
As high school approached, D began caring more and more about his body and could almost always be found in the weight room. LeMaster simply calls D “jacked.” Assistant football coach Frank Hall puts it a little more eloquently, talking about the “raw, strong talent” Demetrius possessed, adding that if he was trained, he would “be unbelievable.” Junior Daren Maruna agrees, calling D a “great football player.” Sophomore Trevor Marthe remembers a time last year in the locker room when Demetrius easily picked him up in the locker room, adding a phrase that “may not be appropriate for the school newspaper,” Marthe says with a laugh. Junior Nick Giorgi recalls D’s “get rich schemes”, which he always joked about. “He was such a funny kid,” Giorgi added. Although he only knew Demetrius for about a year, senior foreign exchange student Julian Schnell already loved D. “He was ALWAYS late, but he was the only one to participate in our English class. Demetrius was probably one of the funniest kids I know.”
Demetrius Hewlin passed away far too soon. However, it is obvious that during his short time on Earth, he touched many people – and will continue to help people with the decision to be an organ donor. D will be remembered forever. Chardon High School misses you.