UNITED WAY He's 70 and he's a big brother

A Champion man volunteers his time at two United Way agencies.
By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- At 70, Art Hewitt has more energy than many people half his age.
Hewitt, of Champion, volunteers as a big brother to three Warren children through Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Mahoning Valley, a United Way of Trumbull County agency.
He also volunteers as a math tutor in the GED program at Salvation Army in Warren, another United Way agency. Big Brothers/Big Sisters and Salvation Army are among 28 health and human care agencies that receive funding from United Way of Trumbull County.
The United Way's annual campaign is nearing the half-way point. This year's goal is to raise $2.9 million.
From Canada: Hewitt, a native of Toronto, Ontario, moved to Champion about six years ago. He had volunteered as a big brother through his church in Toronto for several years, when the boy who was his little brother was killed in a car accident.
"He and I became real soul mates," Hewitt said. "When I saw him it was like me at a younger age. We both enjoyed nature."
Hewitt spoke at the boy's funeral, drawing a parallel between the boy's death and the death of Hewitt's oldest son a few years before. His son was killed in a hang-gliding accident when he was 20.
Despite the pain of loss, Hewitt wasn't discouraged from forging a relationship with other children. He contacted Big Brothers/Big Sisters, which matched him with Moren Freeman and Antonio, or Tony, Cooper, both 13, of Warren about three years ago.
About two years ago, Antoinette Cooper, 13, Antonio's twin sister, became Hewitt's little sister when the woman with whom she'd been matched moved out of state.
"I'm not the typical big brother," Hewitt chuckles. "Most are about a generation younger than I am."
Was honored: The agency recognized his efforts by naming him Big Brother of the Year for 2000.
The foursome goes to movies and museums together. They've gone fishing and taken a trip to Pymatuning State Park in Pennsylvania to fish for carp.
The twins point to movies as their favorite activity with their big brother. Moren prefers museums.
"I think the boys like movies because they like the popcorn," Hewitt quips, referring to their returns to the concession stand.
Antoinette, or Netty, stays in her seat, focusing on the films.
"We get to see movies before most of the people at school," she said.
Helping out: Hewitt traveled last month with the Salvation Army to the crash site of the terrorist-hijacked jet that went down in Pennsylvania. The agency served meals to the 300-plus firefighters working in the recovery effort.
"It was pretty grim," he said.
Activities such as football and basketball for Moren and Tony, and soccer and art for Netty take up a lot of their time, but the kids, all pupils at St. Peter and Paul School of Warren, say their lives would be different without activities with Hewitt.
"It probably would be boring," Moren said.
"I'd probably watch TV or maybe go to my friend's house," Netty added.
They aren't troubled about the age difference either.
"I don't think 70 is old," Netty said. "I think 90 or 100 is old."
dick@vindy.com