The Hawes Family and Our Insurance

Many of us lived in homes insured by the Hawes Insurance Agency and many of us began to drive our first cars insured by that agency and several of us or our parents learned the basics of small business working for John and Florence Hawes. The Hawes family was a solid and important part of community life.  Unfortunately I was unable to find Abby when writing the school history. I recently found her father’s obituary from the Glen Cove Record of Feb. 12, 1999 and it tells part of the family story.

John L. Hawes

John L. Hawes, a resident of Sea Cliff for 52 years, died on Feb. 1, 1999. He was the founder of the Hawes Insurance Agency Inc., a fixture on Sea Cliff Ave. for 50 years. He was also a longtime member of the GN Power Squadron and docked his houseboat, The Seawah, at the Glen Cove Marina for about 20 years. Barely an evening went by that he and his wife Florence didn't have dinner guests while at anchor in Hempstead Harbor. They both loved Sea Cliff and its wonderful harbor.

He was passionate about his cars...he loved to switch them. Especially fond memories of his Cord, LaSalle and the Packard touring sedan which he owned as a young man. He loved Hudson's later...does anyone remember the Hudson dealer up on Glen Cove Avenue? What a wonderful driver he was, teaching each of his children to drive, using Winding Way in Sea Cliff as an ultimate test of skill (shift cars, remember?)

He had a real zest for life and enjoyed dancing and dining regularly...only slowing down when he passed his 93rd birthday. Just a few weeks before he died he was lovingly telling and illustrating stories to one of his great-grandchildren. Everyone in the family had a nickname...you were "in" when he picked one for you...Lion, Fox, Pet, Wooglebird, Rabbit, Lynnie the Lynx and all the rest.

Mr. Hawes is survived by his three loving children, Robert M. Hawes, Joan L. Kujawa and Abby W. Frank. Bob and Abby were both residents of Sea Cliff for over 50 years and both were in business with their dad. Bob now lives in Florida as does Abby, although her tax office/art gallery is still in Sea Cliff. Joan lives in Pennsylvania and provided loving care to her father for the past two years. He is also survived by the spouses of his children; ten grandchildren and their respective spouses; 11 great-grandchildren; and his faithful cat, Buffer.