John P. “Jack” Hewitt, former Montgomery County Planning Board Commissioner, M-NCPPC Executive Director and first director of the Montgomery County Parks Department, died on October 25. A Silver Spring native and World War II veteran, Jack first worked for M-NCPPC in 1938 as a summer job, was hired permanently after serving in the war, and eventually became Parks Director from 1957 to 1971. During his tenure, he was responsible for increasing the park system from fewer than 2,000 acres to more than 20,000 acres. Jack served as M-NCPPC Executive Director from 1971-74 and as a Montgomery County Planning Board Commissioner from 1987 to 1991. He was past president of the American Park & Recreation Association, past president of the Maryland Recreation & Park Society, and recipient of the Pugsley Medal, a prestigious parks award. A leader even in retirement, Jack was a founding member of M-NCPPC Retirees Association and served on the Board of the Silver Spring Town Center, Inc.