Photo courtesy Steve Hewgley
Steve Hewgley, a longtime Pepperdine employee, friend and alumnus, passed away on Saturday, April 4.
He was an alumnus of Seaver College (Class of 1978) and the Graduate School of Education and Psychology (Class of 2002). Hewgley was also a Pepperdine employee for more than 30 years, most recently as assistant provost under Darryl Tippens.
Professor David Lemley spoke in remembrance of Hewgley: “He was very loved by the community,” he said. “We saw that in the way people turned up for him.”
Lemley held a brief prayer service Wednesday in the Stauffer Chapel.
“A large amount of people gathered to pray and honor him,” he said. “He had a great love for Pepperdine and a great perspective on where the school was going and where it had been.”
Lemley also mentioned that although Hewgley never married or had children, he developed a “unique bond” with his dog named Willie. “[Steve] really loved Willie. She even came to work with him,” he said. “People asked when he passed ‘Where’s Willie?’”
Lemley said that Willie is now living with a family that has Pepperdine ties.
Lemley said that Hewgley will be definitely be missed. “He built a family at Pepperdine, and he was loved like a family member,” he said. “People had a deep appreciation of who he was.”
According to Hewgley’s wishes, there will be a memorial on Tuesday, May 5, at 10 AM in Elkins Auditorium. All are welcome to attend.
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