Mark Jewett. To many people, this name has a strong meaning. He was a friend, a coach, and a father. Simply by watching him, one could almost feel his ever present joy as he congratulated a player on a made shot or teased one of the youth in his church. His persistent smile was well recognized on Thunderbird campus. He easily became friends with the entire basketball team, coaching them, often literally, as a father coaches his son in the sport. He was a great man and was loved by many people. When such a man  leaves us, words simply cannot describe the loss. So I won’t even try.

     Coach Jewett, even for the comparatively short time I knew him, was one of the people I greatly looked up to in my life. His leadership and strength was combined with a gentle, almost fatherly spirit that he showed towards everyone. He was an excellent listener and was always ready and willing to help anyone out.

     When I was on the basketball team, he patiently explained, taught, and re-explained everything he wanted me to learn. During games, whenever I was frustrated, he would tell me to sit beside him. Before telling me anything that he wanted me to change, he would start by congratulating me on what I had already done, no matter how little that was. Once, he invited the basketball members over to his house for brunch and to watch some clips of our games. While we ate, he and Coach B talked and debated on the strategies to use in a game, or what we did well or could improve on. Coach Jewett, however, was caught joking more than once as we looked at the mistakes we made. Nobody minded.

     When I arrived at the Jewett’s house on Sunday, Mark met me at the door, a smile on his face. He congratulated me on the talent show, commenting that he never knew I played the violin. He thoroughly enjoyed the performance, though, he mentioned immediately afterwards. When I close my eyes and remember, I can still hear the sound of his voice, his laughter, and the genuine friendliness that it carried. I am honored to have given him his final concert on this earth.

     Although the timing was hard on all of us, Mark died doing what he loved best: playing basketball with his son. His legacy will live on in Thunderbird Adventist Academy and elsewhere for a long time to come, and his name will not soon be forgotten.