Hendrix “Drix” Niemann passed away on March 27, 2025 due to complications from a medical procedure. He was surrounded by his loving family, the very people who were the center of his world.

Born on September 19, 1951 in New York City to Donald Edward Wesley Niemann and Cornelia Sadowsky Niemann, Drix spent his early years in Palm Beach, FL, where his father served as headmaster of Palm Beach Private School. His family later settled in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, where they were deeply involved in both academics and the arts. Immersed in this rich environment, Drix developed a lifelong love for learning and theater, performing in plays throughout his childhood.

Drix went on to attend The Choate School before continuing his education at Princeton University, Class of 1973, with a degree in Political Science. While at Princeton, he played rugby, performed with the Triangle Club, and was a member of the Quadrangle Eating Club. He married the love of his life, Judi Finegan, in 1975. They spent their first twelve years together in Princeton, New Jersey, where Drix founded and published New Jersey Monthly Magazine and later became the Executive Director of New Jersey Public Television.

In 1987, Drix and Judi settled in Annapolis, MD, when Drix became president of Potomac Television in Washington, DC. Together they built a vibrant home for their four children. A devoted father, Drix poured himself into his children's education and pursuits, becoming a driving force in youth sports, academics, and the performing arts. He founded and led youth athletic leagues and a children’s musical theater company, inspiring young minds as a coach, director, and teacher. Whether on the field, the stage, or in the classroom, he created opportunities for children to learn, grow, and thrive.

Drix went on to become a trainer of wealth management advisors and real estate brokers. When the Niemann family moved to Wilmington, NC in 2004, Drix founded the first women’s lacrosse team in New Hanover County for his daughters, sparking a movement that spread throughout the state. He was instrumental in securing women’s lacrosse as a sanctioned high school sport in North Carolina. Beyond coaching and mentoring, he became a respected referee and later served as the NCHSAA Regional Supervisor for high school women’s lacrosse in the coastal NC region, where he recruited, trained, and scheduled officials from the Outer Banks to Sunset Beach. His passion and dedication to lacrosse fueled its growth and success in the region, expanding opportunities for young athletes and leaving a lasting legacy.

Drix’s mentorship included leading a small group at Port City Community Church, where he guided the same group of boys for six years, and mentoring college students at UNC Wilmington’s Cameron School of Business.

For nearly a decade, Drix was an active and devoted member of the F3 community, a brotherhood built on faith, fitness, and fellowship. He cherished the camaraderie, shared laughter, and the bonds forged through prayer and perseverance. With his signature warmth and wisdom, he took a special interest in supporting young fathers in the group, offering encouragement, perspective, and a listening ear.

His support for his children’s passions - whether on the field or the stage - was legendary. He and Judi became devoted patrons of Wilmington’s theater community after JJ began performing in fourth grade, and Drix’s infectious belly laugh could be distinctly heard from any audience. One of his greatest joys was traveling with Judi to celebrate their children’s successes, including watching JJ perform on stages nationwide. In the last year and a half of his life, he took multiple trips to New York City to see JJ star as Marty McFly in Back to the Future: The Musical on Broadway. Watching his son lead a Broadway show filled him with immense pride and created some of the family’s most meaningful final memories. Above all, Drix cherished his role as a father, going to great lengths to create special moments and celebrate life’s milestones. For him, nothing was ever too much trouble, and when it came to love and generosity, the more, the merrier.

Drix found joy in life’s simple pleasures - cooking, gardening, and engaging in lively conversation over a well-set table. A gentleman and a scholar, he was an avid reader - reading five newspapers a day - always staying informed, eager to debate, and ready to share a fascinating insight. But his greatest gift was his ability to bring people together. With an open-door policy and a heart as welcoming as his home, he created a space where friends became family and laughter was ever-present. He was a second father to many of his children’s friends, always offering hugs, wisdom, and a place to belong. Nothing made him happier than a house filled with the warmth of shared meals, meaningful conversations, and the joyful sounds of a life well lived.

Drix is survived by his wife of 50 years, Judi, his children Wesley, Eliza Dale, Cori, and JJ, and his siblings Nemo, Nela, and Liza.

A Celebration of Life service will be held in Drix’s honor on May 6th at Port City Community Church, 250 Vision Drive, Wilmington, NC. Guests are invited to join the family beginning at 11:00 AM for a receiving line, with the service to follow at 12:00 PM.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Port City Community Church in honor of Hendrix Niemann. 

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