Celebration of Life: Dick Hewetson--Saturday September 6, 2025 at 1:30 pm

Our friend and longtime freethought activist Dick Hewetson died on July 19 at the age of 95 after a long and purposeful life. We will be celebrating his life Saturday afternoon September 6 at the Billy DeFrank LGBTQ+ Community Center in San Jose, California. You may join this celebration in person or on Zoom.

Dick was born in a Chicago suburb in 1930. Dick was raised Christian, and was an Episcopal priest in his early adult years, but he never believed what he was trying to preach. At age 42, he came out of the closet as a gay man. Dick and his then-partner had reached the conclusion that the greatest enemy of LGBTQ-plus people was religion.
Dick joined the Freedom from Religion Foundation in 1978, soon after FFRF was founded by Anne Gaylor and her daughter Annie Laurie Gaylor. Dick Hewetson has been an FFRF member for over 45 years. He has been a leader for atheist rights all this time.
Dick also promoted LGBTQ+ rights in the labor union movement in Minnesota, and founded an LGBTQ+ library there. He has furthered gay rights for over half a century.
After Dick left the ministry, he worked for the State of Minnesota Employment Division, helping to locate jobs for recent immigrants.
Dick Hewetson chose the day and time of his own death, and carried out his dying process with the aid of California law, with physician assistance and Hospice assistance. That day Dick was surrounded with a small group of his friends and relatives to celebrate his last day of life.
We encourage you to share your memories of Dick Hewetson with the rest of us in attendance at this Celebration of Life.
For folks planning to speak briefly (in person or via Zoom) please email Dick’s friend and our Master of Ceremonies Jim at [jimvanbuskirk@sbcglobal.net](mailto:jimvanbuskirk@sbcglobal.net)
For folks planning to attend in person please email Dick’s niece Kim at [kimspawn5@gmail.com](mailto:kimspawn5@gmail.com) using the subject line "Dick's celebration of life."
To attend in person:
Come to the Billy DeFrank LGBTQ+ Community Center at 938 The Alameda in San Jose, CA, on Saturday September 6 during the setup period 12:30-1:30 pm. The entrance to the Center is at the back of the parking lot.
To attend on Zoom:
[https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81653890712?pwd=QzN4MTVNbGEwQ0Zua3d1VG9tVE50UT09](https://qboowg.clicks.mlsend.com/tj/c/eyJ2Ijoie1wiYVwiOjUwNjM3MyxcImxcIjoxNjI2NzI2MDI3OTMzNzg5MzIsXCJyXCI6MTYyNjcyNjEzNzU0MTQ0MjUxfSIsInMiOiI5ZDgwYTgyZTg4MjA1YjE2In0)
No password is needed -- our host will admit you from the waiting room.
You can also install the Zoom app on your computer or smart phone, and then enter:
Meeting ID: 816 5389 0712
Passcode: 250634
Join the meeting by phone: +1 408 638 0968 US (San Jose)
Find an international number to call: [https://zoom.us/u/afYkAuvE6](https://qboowg.clicks.mlsend.com/tj/c/eyJ2Ijoie1wiYVwiOjUwNjM3MyxcImxcIjoxNjI2NzI2MDI3OTc1NzMyMzcsXCJyXCI6MTYyNjcyNjEzNzU0MTQ0MjUxfSIsInMiOiJkZTU3ODIxMzVhNDNiZGU3In0)
Note: The Atheist Community and the local FFRF Chapter need some members willing to learn how to conduct hybrid (in person plus Zoom) meetings. If you want to become skilled at these useful tasks, please come to this Celebration in the set-up period 12:30-1:30 pm to learn from our Humanist techies!