Hewitt Campau Wells ’38 *40

Body

HEW WELLS died on Oct. 2, 1989, after a year's illness. He had gradually retired from practicing architecture and was busily pursuing watercolor painting, an avocation at which he excelled. He also taught and judged art shows.

Hew prepared at Choate, belonged to Cloister Inn and the Triangle Club, and graduated summa cum laude in architecture. He received his master's in 1940. During WWII, he served on the destroyer U.S.S. BAILEY in the Pacific, earning three battle stars.

Kidder Smith '35's ARCHITECTURE OF THE U.S. describes Hew's work as outstanding. An expert in earthquake-proof design, his projects withstood the recent temblor in California. He was a consultant to the Nevada State Public Works Board and a member of the Nevada Wildlife Commission and the boards of the Salvation Army, Trout Unlimited, and other conservation groups. In 50 Years Later, he wrote: "It has been a great life! A great profession, involvement in the outdoors as a hunter and fisherman, a wonderful family, good friends, and good hunting dogs! I have had the privilege of a talent for drawing and painting to keep me ever busy."

Hewitt is survived by his widow, Marian, two daughters, and Marian's two sons. We share their great sorrow.

The Class of 1938

0 Responses

Join the conversation

Plain text

Full name and Princeton affiliation (if applicable) are required for all published comments. For more information, view our commenting policy. Responses are limited to 500 words for online and 250 words for print consideration.

Paw in print

Image
PAW's July/August 2025 issue cover, featuring a photo of people dressed in orange and black, marching in the P-rade, and the headline: Reunions, Back in Orange & Black.
The Latest Issue

July 2025

On the cover: Wilton Virgo ’00 and his classmates celebrate during the P-rade.