Temple - Philip Anthony Hewitt departed this earth on June 12, 2026, in Farmington Maine, with his beloved wife Mary (Sennott) Hewitt at his side. Born in Boston on November 6, 1955, to George Alexander Hewitt and Mary Frances (Morrison) Hewitt, he was seventh of nine children (Gregory, John, Kathy, Christopher, Steven, Paul, Philip, Timothy, and Gary). He is survived by his wife, Mary and her nieces, Hilary, Lauren, Leeah, Kelsey, and Caela; his brothers, Christopher Hewitt and Gary Hewitt and Gary’s children, Troy, Hannah and Jacqueline; his son, Eric Alexander Hewitt with his sons, Philip Alexander Hewitt and Oscar William Hewitt; his daughter, Sarah Hewitt and her husband Mark “what’s his name” Murphy and their son, Maxwell Murphy; his former wife, Mary Vincenza Hewitt; as well as several other cousins, nieces and nephews. He attended several public schools in Brighton, Massachusetts and almost achieved the rank of Life Scout.

At age 16, under his own power, he traversed North America from the Atlantic to the Pacific – from Boston to British Columbia to San Diego to Key West and back home again. About a year after returning, he repeated almost the same voyage. When he returned for the second time, he established a home with his first wife and their children Eric and Sarah in Everett, MA working as a commercial cement truck driver. He then seized an opportunity to work at American Kosher Beef Products in Mattapan, MA where he was trained as a butcher, and made deliveries in a large, refrigerated box truck. His talent with a knife, skill, strength, and willingness had a transformative impact on their operation for 20 years. During this time, he moved his family to a house in Medford, MA. He found time for side jobs (delivered pizza and then became “Phil the limo driver”), home improvement, quality time with his kids, maintaining relationships with his huge family, in-laws, and extended family, physical fitness, strength training, marathon running, music making on his guitar (and later banjos and mandola), photography, poetry, sketching and painting, reading on every subject known to man, visits to nature in the mountains, forests, and the sea, and the occasional swim.

After a divorce, he took a leap of faith and left his job to join his friend from Mike’s Gym, Dave Ross, to help run his new company - Millennium Maintenance and Power Sweeping Inc. Little did Philip know that he was beginning another huge chapter in his life. He spent almost 24 years with Dave at Millennium. “Mr. Phil” helped Dave to build the early company into the success it has become today. A demanding foreman, he could produce results. Working with Phil, one would “trim the brush” while painting, and “prepare the igloo” cooler on brutally hot days working in the sun. For 17 of those 24 years, he enjoyed life as a municipal Pelican Street Sweeper Operator - Sweeper 1 - in the City of Cambridge Massachusetts. He was dedicated and respected by his teammates (Jose, Hose-B, Carl “the person”, Sam, Pepe, Al, Larry, and John) who worked consistently to make the city clean and safe for the residents and visitors. That was for 9 months 1 year - snow removal with plows and loaders was the order in the winters. A legend at Millennium, he was a force of nature. During this time Philip watched his children get married and became “Grandpa”. He reconnected with his childhood friend Mary Sennott and began visiting her in Maine.

Camping and hiking with bird watching and photography were the center of their world. He had always been a poet, but he became prolific during this time, and his poems are poignant and unique. He and Mary had an opportunity to buy a house in the forest on a lake near the mountains in Temple, ME. They were married there in 2011 when he was diagnosed with cancer. Philip survived surgery and cancer treatment twice and achieved recovery. Always spiritual and never religious, he established his own church of sorts - he called it the “Lowfalutin Ministries”. Simple humility taken to beyond the extreme… The last shall be first. Philip loved that idea. After recovery he returned to work and swept the streets in Cambridge until his retirement at the end of 2023. He lived many of these years locally in the basement apartment of Sarah’s home where he could be a daily superhero to his grandson Max. During this time, he enjoyed his grown children and grandchildren, created many stunning renderings of birds and wildlife, and lived happily with Mary in their idyllic surroundings on the weekends and in the winters. It was a dream come true. Philip was lucky but he persevered when he sensed opportunity - the house and property in Maine are his manifestation of his lifelong dream – a home in the woods on a lake, with lots of birds and wildlife. He loved the snow and the cold. He was proud of his snow ramps and roof raking in the winter. He was a mountain of a spirit, without a yielding bone in his body and seemingly unlimited energy… although he was a great connoisseur of naps.

Philip is most well remembered for his direct nature, his enduring work ethic which provided for his loved ones for more than a generation, and his buoyant personality. His cremated remains have been scattered on the lake, the fire pit and in the garden.

Arrangements are under the care of Dan & Scott’s Cremation & Funeral Service, 488 Farmington Falls Road, Farmington Maine, where memories, photos and condolences may be shared at www.dsfuneral.com