Local businessman gives $5 million to UCI

Noaki Schwartz

CORONA DEL MAR -- Local philanthropist and businessman George E. Hewitt

has donated $5 million to UC Irvine’s College of Medicine.

The money will be used to construct a third building at the university’s

Biomedical Research Center, to be named the Dottie and George Hewitt

Research Hall after the 78-year-old donor and his wife, who passed away

in December.

The hall will continue the school’s research on the causes of infectious

diseases and immune system disorders. Among other things, the center will

focus on the genetics of cancer.

“Just think how nice it would be if you didn’t get arthritis or diabetes

or those things you have to worry about all your life and have to keep

after,” Hewitt said. “The one thing that really needs a cure is cancer.”

UCI Chancellor Ralph J. Cicerone said the hall will stand as a symbol of

hope to those battling life-threatening illnesses.

In detail, researchers at the center will study how cells react to

disease-causing agents, how viruses work and ways to prevent and treat

major infections.

Hewitt, an engineer, is a longtime supporter of UCI. The George E. Hewitt

Foundation for Medical Research was established in 1983 and funds

postdoctoral research. Since its opening, the foundation has supported 40

postdoctoral fellows nationwide.

The Corona del Mar resident serves on the Beckman Laser Institute Board

of Directors and the UCI Health Sciences Board of Visitors. He is also

chief executive officer at Irvine Imaging International, a start-up

company of medical imaging researchers.

Originally a New Yorker, Hewitt graduated from Columbia University and

worked as a staff researcher there and at MIT.

Following his work at MIT, he came to California and founded two

companies that designed and developed microwave radar antennae,

missile-tracking systems and airport radar systems -- many of which are

still used worldwide. He has also been involved in commercial real estate

projects in Orange County.