Warren Read Jewett

Warren Read Jewett, Sc.D., came to the end of life’s journey on April 20, 2018. Warren was born in Newton, Massachusetts on July 13, 1930. He was the second of three children born to Caroline Read Jewett and Abel Longley Jewett. His older brother, David, died at one year of age. As a young child, Warren moved with his parents and his younger sister, Pam, to Connecticut, and he was raised in the home his father built in Woodbridge. At age 12 , he enrolled at Hopkins Grammar School in New Haven. While there, he discovered his love of Math and Science, and a beloved math teacher urged him to attend Brown University. He attended Brown from 1948-1951 and then transferred to the University of Arizona, where he studied Astronomy and spent time at the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff. Several years later, he earned a Doctor of Science from the U.S. Naval Graduate Program. Warren was born with severe hemophilia and throughout his life underwent too-numerous-to-count hospitalizations for treatment of bleeding episodes. To keep him occupied during these times, his father, himself an inventor and tinkerer, would bring him parts of clocks and radios to assemble . Warren emulated his father and developed a love for gadgets and keen ideas for improved designs. Coupled with his own experience with medical devices and their shortcomings, Warren’s love of “building a better mouse trap” blossomed into his ultimate career as a biomedical engineer. In 1952, Warren married Averell Barnes, and they had three children together. The family lived together in Connecticut, where Warren built a business designing biomedical instruments. In 1970, his company was purchased by Schick and became their biomedical division. In 1975, Warren accepted a position on the faculty of the University of Arizona in the Electrical Engineering Department, where he remained until 1985. He especially loved the collegial and mentoring relationships he experienced there. In 1985, Warren married Brenda L. Plassman, Ph.D., and embarked on a new chapter of his life. They traveled extensively and lived in Australia for a time while Warren collaborated with colleagues on his many projects. In 1988, the couple settled in Cary, North Carolina. Over these past thirty years, Warren has engaged in numerous business ventures. He was the president of Sonodyne America Limited, an Australian-based biomedical engineering company. Later, he was the Chief Executive Officer of another biomedical company, IEP Group, which was ultimately purchased by KOS Pharmaceuticals. Subsequently, he created numerous start-ups for the purpose of designing biomedical devices. A number of his more recent projects were founded to aid in the work of his wife, Brenda, a neuroscientist at Duke whose research focuses on Alzheimer disease. Warren holds numerous patents on his inventions, many of which are regularly used in medical settings today. Throughout his adult life, Warren devoted many years to advocacy for the hemophilia community, including serving as president of the National Hemophilia Foundation. Warren lived life to its fullest despite physical limitations imposed by complications of hemophilia. He and Brenda shared their home with a young child (now adult), Natalya, and he enjoyed a second round of parenting. He was devoted to his family and routinely engaged with each individual on the topics most important to them. He assisted with numerous science fair projects (which he may have enjoyed more than his progeny!). He submitted to all manners of embellishment by his grandchildren, including face painting and manicures. He was generous beyond measure, always seeking to please loved ones. Favorite pastimes included spending time at Smith Mountain Lake, reading books of all sorts, and communing with dear friends. Dark chocolate, ice cream, and lobster were passions. Warren leaves behind his wife, Brenda; his sister, Pamela Hitchcock (John, Ph.D.) and their sons, Christopher Hitchcock, Ph.D. (Ann Lindline) and Edward Hitchcock (Laura) and their children; his children, Tamison Jewett, M.D. (Jim Greenstreet), Keith Jewett (Maureen), and Jennifer Jewett (Patrice Mackey); nine grandchildren, Tyler Greenstreet, Cary Greenstreet, Hayley Greenstreet, Amanda Zekanis, Emma Jewett, Sofia Mackey, Isabel Mackey, Natalya Mangum, and Khalid Mangum, and 2 great grandchildren, Audrey and Avery Zekanis. Additionally, he leaves behind many members of Brenda’s extended family, who also adored him. A memorial service will be held for Warren on Saturday, April 28, at 11:00 am at Christ the King Lutheran Church, 600 Walnut Street, Cary, North Carolina 27512. In lieu of sending flowers, the family asks that those interested in making gifts in Warren’s honor consider donations to Hemophilia of North Carolina (www.hemophilia-nc.org/donate), Hopkins School (www.Hopkins.edu), or Christ the King Lutheran Church (www.christthekingcary.org/onlinegiving).

Warren Read Jewett

July 13, 1930 - April 20, 2018