Jodie Hietpas has been called Bellarmine’s number one fan, the "Lion heart." She attended almost every basketball and football game for about 24 years, inspiring players, spectators and coaches. Her smile was infectious, her jokes and greetings unforgettable. She was an integral part of the Bellarmine community, and she will be dearly missed by all those who encountered her on the hill.

    Jodie Hietpas took her place in heaven on Friday, April 23, due to complications from Charge Syndrome. Charge syndrome, a genetic pattern of birth defects that differ for each child affected, involves extensive medical difficulties. "They told us when she was born that we wouldn’t bring her home from the hospital," said her father, John Hietpas. "My wife just said, ‘You take over the operation, God will take care of our child.’ Through it all, she became a whole person. She never complained about her ailments."

    Despite her ailments, Jodie lived her life to the fullest. "You want to give them the best life you can give them," said John. "She had a good life because of the people at Bellarmine. I’m just so overwhelmed at the community. The people here make it easier… they’ve always loved her."

    John, commonly referred to as "Buseee," has been a large part of the community since 1991, when he started taking down football stats and driving the busses. "It’s been the best gig in town," said John. He has enjoyed his many years as a part of the school athletics program, as has Jodie.

    "Jodie loved everything unconditionally," said John. She loved sports, whether it was watching Bellarmine sports or the Little Lions, or playing on Metropolitan Parks bowling, volleyball, basketball, softball and soccer teams. While observing from the stands, Jodie would cheer on the Lions and pass out water bottles during time-outs. She was just as big a part of Bellarmine sporting events as the coaches and players.

    Jodie’s nephew, freshman Sefo Liufau, was one of her favorite reasons to come to Bellarmine games. "My favorite memory of her is from a freshman football game at Gig Harbor," said Liufau. "We had just scored a touchdown, and as I walked off the field I saw her holding the water bottles, not letting another girl take them. She didn’t want to give up the water bottles, she loved handing them to us. She’ll be missed, that’s for sure. She was a big part of my family."

    Freshman Kevin Kors knew Jodie through his involvement in high school football, and even before then. "Jodie was just a very sweet person. She had a unique personality and always brought joy to me whenever I saw her or talked with her," said Kors. "Not only was she nice, she was just a cool, awesome person in general. She was always wanting to joke around and cheer on all sports teams. I feel she lived her life to the fullest, and was thankful for every day she spent on this earth."

    Jodie was a regular presence at every boys basketball game. "She would always come and say ‘hello’ to me before all the games, and tell me, ‘You better win," said head boys basketball coach Bernie Salazar. "She would sit faithfully behind the bench and cheer…and the thing I’ll remember most about her was her smile. I’ll never forget her smile."

    "Her emotions were so genuine," said assistant boys basketball coach Jennifer Phillips. "If we were winning, losing, or it was a close game, she would sit right behind the bench and tell the boys ‘good job.’ She was always happy."

    During her time spent watching football games, Jodie got to know head football coach Tom Larsen very well. "Every game, home or away, you’d see her walking down the field, no matter how green or muddy it was. She’d play her ‘low five’ game, give me a hug, and then go up to her place in the stands. It was kind of a ritual," said Larsen.

    "She’d always tell me, ‘You’re silly,’ or ‘You’re weird.’ It was kind of like her, ‘hi,’ said Larsen. "You know, it’s amazing how someone like Jodie can affect so many people in such a positive way. It is challenging to me to consider in my lifetime, have I done the same?"

    Former head football coach Mike Baldassin said, "I could always count on Jodie meeting me at the entrance gate of Memorial Field." He went on to say, "The neatest thing about Jodie was that everyone would think, ‘How can we have a positive impact on her?’, when it was always really what we got from her. I got the blessing from Jodie, I think we all did."

    "Her funeral was standing room only," said Baldassin, "It was a powerful testimony of her influence on others. People of all ages were there, young and old. That’s a testament of how she led her life."

    Jodie Hietpas was an unforgettable presence at Bellarmine. Her love of life, and all things Bellarmine and sports-related, will continue to inspire those that knew her, saw her, or knew of her. Our number one fan and true "Lion heart" will live on in the lives of those she touched, and as our players step out onto the courts and fields in the years to come, she will never be forgotten.