Olivia Jasriel, born Suellen Sheehan, who campaigned against abuse of minors in sport after she helped secure a jail term for former tennis player and coach Bob Hewitt, has died.
She was 55.
According to Algoa FM, Jasriel struggled with mental health after being raped at the age of 12.
Her body was discovered in her Pretoria home on Wednesday after she reportedly committed suicide.
Jasriel changed her name – choosing Olivia for its meaning “peace” – after Hewitt was finally prosecuted after three decades.
During the protracted court and parole proceedings, Jasriel disclosed that she was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder which made it difficult to cope. She said she was also a multi-autoimmune disease sufferer who lived with chronic pain.
Bob Hewitt served three and half years in prison
The now 84-year-old Bob Hewitt, who maintained his innocence, was under investigation for several years and was finally charged and convicted for raping and sexually assaulting three of his former tennis students.
He was sentenced to six years and became the oldest inmate at the St Albans Correctional Facility.
In 2016. he was also stripped of all tennis legacy when his name was removed from the International Tennis Hall of Fame, where he was also expelled.
After serving just over three and a half years of his sentence he was granted parole in 2019, as reported by The South African website.
Hewitt was born in Australia in 1940. In 1967, after marrying a South African, he became a South African citizen.
Reeva Rebecca Steenkamp Foundation confirmed Olivia Jasriel’s death
The Reeva Rebecca Steenkamp Foundation, confirmed Jasriel’s death on social media, confirming that she took her own life.
The Reeva Rebecca Steenkamp Foundation was set up in slain Gqeberha model Reeva Steenkamp’s name after she was murdered by her Paralympian boyfriend Oscar Pistorius on Valentine’s Day in 2013 aged 29.
“The Reeva Rebecca Steenkamp Foundation deeply mourns the passing of Olivia Jasriel: staunch advocate against child abuse, especially in sport; dedicated to implementing safeguarding policies in sport; fighter for victims of child abuse; child abuse survivor; founder of the Jasriel Foundation; and personal friend.
“Born Suellen Sheehan, Olivia changed her name after her former childhood tennis coach, Bob Hewitt, was found guilty more than 30 years later of raping and sexually abusing Olivia when she was just 12 years old. We admire her courage for speaking out and her determination to fight for justice not only for herself, but also for other victims.
“Olivia publicly stated that she had struggled all her life with depression, relationships, low self-esteem, eating disorders and terrible abandonment and rejection issues as a result of her abuse. We choose to remember Olivia as a warrior – not as a victim who fought many personal battles caused by a wounded childhood.
“We shall remember her with love and respect. We shall remember her for her kindness and compassion. And we shall remember her, with the greatest gratitude, for her generosity, gentleness and much needed emotional support when she hosted June and Tania during the first parole hearing of Oscar Pistorius.
“We saw her struggles through the years and how she bravely tried to fight her demons. We experienced how helping others was part of her healing, but also a trigger for her own hurt and pain. We are sad and heartbroken that Olivia has left this world, and it brings no solace that it was on her own terms.
“The name ‘Olivia’ means ‘peace’. We can only hope that Olivia has now found her peace. Rest softly our beautiful, beloved friend. Your voice is no more, but your legacy is forever.”
