Celebrating the life of
Dr. Joseph A. Heffernan, Jr.
October 02, 1928 - October 21, 2008
Joseph Anthony Heffernan, Jr. 80, died Tuesday, October 21st, 2008. He was a most wise and caring physician and a man of great passion for beauty, which he found everywhere.
He worked as the City Physician for 30 years in addition to his private Family Practice of 37 years, where he healed and cared for thousands of people, often at no charge.
Growing up in the Cathedral Parish, Tony went on to graduate from Benedictine Military School in 1946 where he achieved the rank of Lieutenant in ROTC. He then entered the Navy, serving up in Great Lakes, Illinois as a Corpsman from 1946 until 1948. He and seven other BC graduates who entered the service together were honored into the "Hall Of Fame" by being the outstanding drill company for four consecutive weeks during boot camp. As a magnificent tenor, Tony sang in the men's choir at The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist and sang for his family and friends at any opportunity. He was dapper, loved to travel and adored his wife and five children. Elected into Who's Who in America, he cared deeply for his patients, as a physician.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Louise Jeffrey and Joseph Anthony Heffernan, Sr., and his fourth-born son, John Jeffrey Heffernan in 1998. Survivors include his wife of 58 years, Jean Ann Heffernan, a daughter Nancy Ann and sons, Joseph Anthony III May, Mark Stephen Justina and Gregory Stewart. He is also survived by one sister, Carol Melson, of Marietta and his grandchildren Katherine and Anna Mothersbaugh, Ainslee and Tait Heffernan and Nicole Heffernan.
Visitation: 3:00 to 5:00 Sunday, October 26, 2008 with a rosary at 4:00 at Fox and Weeks Islands Chapel. Funeral services will be at 10:00 Monday, October 27 at
The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist with the Reverend Patrick O'Brian, Celebrant.
Pallbearers will be, Frank and Arthur VanGiesen, Don Marx, Jay Harris, Tom Coleman and Nelson Haslam, Jr. Members of the Benedictine Class of 1946 and The Hibernian Society will honor him as honorary pallbearers.
Burial will be private at Bonaventure Cemetery.
Remembrances may be made to Benedictine Military School, 6502 Seawright Dr., Savannah, GA 31406.
Please sign our on-line guestbook at www.foxandweeks.com
Fox & Weeks Funeral Directors, Islands Chapel
I would just like to say my heart goes out to the family of Dr. Heffernan. He was the reason for me being, and brought me in this world on Feb 19, 1963. He was a great man!
- Priscilla Whalen, Savannah, GA
Dearest Nancy and Family, There I am sitting in the living room, just arriving from New Jersey and telling 'daddy' one of my experiences or stories. I would ask him 'Don't you think,,,'? He would wait for a brief second and make his reply. Somehow, every time, his comment would make you think: 'Oh my. I never really thought about it like that'. He was a wonderful man who made you think outside the box and not just in it. I loved him for that. I loved him for loving life as he did and looking at all the wonders in the world and teaching you all to see them as you do in your special ways and professions. You are all in my thoughts.
- Chrissy, Morristown, NJ
Dear friends of Tony, my dear father: I know of what you speak. I used to go on house calls with Daddy...I went into the houses of people who could not get out to see him. They were all such wonderful people! Thank you for remembering my father as the great physician and lover of life that he was. He was surely a fantastic man. Even in practice, after he was done trying to calm you, most of you remember he would change the subject - like to German wines, boating, bird dogs, other nut cases without naming namesor just what he'd just sucessfully grown in his garden. To this day, I know more about gardening from him than I could have learned in the school of agriculture at UGA. Thank you all for loving our father. Tony was something else and he sure knew his stuff. He knew a lot of stuff! Everybody knew that. My very best to everyone he has had the grace to be near and for him to have made a difference in their lives in any way - there are many. He used to say: Everybody's gotta be somewhere.' Now Tony is everywhere. We will all miss him. Nancy Heffernan daughter
- Nancy Heffernan, Tybee Island, GA
I enjoyed knowing Dr. Heffernan not only as a personal physician but also through my work with the Savannah Police Department. His help over the years will always be remembered and his humor will certanly not be forgotten. Sgt. M. White, Retired
- Millie White, Surprise, AZ
Dear Nancy, My thoughts and prayers are w/ you. When I was going on my 1st trip to Africa, your Dad was closing his practice. He gave me the meds I needed and was so interested in my travel plans. He was such a huge help that I couldn't get any where else. I'll always remember him for that. Bless you and your family. With all my love, Kay G.
- Kay Garlington, Tybee island, GA
Thank you for saving my baby with one of your famous housecalls over 40 years ago. Dolores, Stanley and Melanie
- Dolores Fulghum Thompson, Savannah, GA
I would just like to say my heart goes out to the family of Dr. Heffernan. He was the reason for me being, and brought me in this world on Feb 19, 1963. He was a great man!
- Priscilla Whalen, Savannah, GA
Dearest Nancy and Family, There I am sitting in the living room, just arriving from New Jersey and telling 'daddy' one of my experiences or stories. I would ask him 'Don't you think,,,'? He would wait for a brief second and make his reply. Somehow, every time, his comment would make you think: 'Oh my. I never really thought about it like that'. He was a wonderful man who made you think outside the box and not just in it. I loved him for that. I loved him for loving life as he did and looking at all the wonders in the world and teaching you all to see them as you do in your special ways and professions. You are all in my thoughts.
- Chrissy, Morristown, NJ
Dear friends of Tony, my dear father: I know of what you speak. I used to go on house calls with Daddy...I went into the houses of people who could not get out to see him. They were all such wonderful people! Thank you for remembering my father as the great physician and lover of life that he was. He was surely a fantastic man. Even in practice, after he was done trying to calm you, most of you remember he would change the subject - like to German wines, boating, bird dogs, other nut cases without naming namesor just what he'd just sucessfully grown in his garden. To this day, I know more about gardening from him than I could have learned in the school of agriculture at UGA. Thank you all for loving our father. Tony was something else and he sure knew his stuff. He knew a lot of stuff! Everybody knew that. My very best to everyone he has had the grace to be near and for him to have made a difference in their lives in any way - there are many. He used to say: Everybody's gotta be somewhere.' Now Tony is everywhere. We will all miss him. Nancy Heffernan daughter
- Nancy Heffernan, Tybee Island, GA
I enjoyed knowing Dr. Heffernan not only as a personal physician but also through my work with the Savannah Police Department. His help over the years will always be remembered and his humor will certanly not be forgotten. Sgt. M. White, Retired
- Millie White, Surprise, AZ
Dear Nancy, My thoughts and prayers are w/ you. When I was going on my 1st trip to Africa, your Dad was closing his practice. He gave me the meds I needed and was so interested in my travel plans. He was such a huge help that I couldn't get any where else. I'll always remember him for that. Bless you and your family. With all my love, Kay G.
- Kay Garlington, Tybee island, GA
Thank you for saving my baby with one of your famous housecalls over 40 years ago. Dolores, Stanley and Melanie
- Dolores Fulghum Thompson, Savannah, GA
Services under the direction of:
Fox & Weeks Funeral Directors, Hodgson Chapel
912-352-7200
