Rev. Joseph T. Heistand

HEISTAND, The Rt. Rev. Joseph T., passed away at his home on October 14, 2008. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Roberta Lush Heistand; his three daughters, Hilary Long and husband, Henry P. Long Jr., Andrea Boyd and husband, The Rev. Lawrence Boyd, and The Rev. Virginia Heistand; seven grandchildren, Henry P. Long III, Joseph Thomas Heistand Long, Caroline Richmond Long, Hilary Wynn Long, Henry Harrison Heistand, Emily Ann Heistand, and Elizabeth Caroline Heistand. "Joe" Heistand was born in Danville, Pa., and was the son of an Episcopal Bishop. He received his undergraduate degree from Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut, and the Master of Divinity degree from Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria, Virginia. He also holds two Doctor of Divinity degrees, one awarded by Trinity College and the other by Virginia Theological Seminary. Bishop Heistand served in World War II with the 29th Field Artillery, Third Infantry Division of the U.S. Army. He was awarded the Bronze Star for valorous conduct at the battle of Anzio during the Italian campaign. He was 19 years old at the time. He also was awarded the Oak Leaf Cluster, the Purple Heart and the Croix de Guerre in combat in France. Following his ordination in 1952, Bishop Heistand was the Rector of Trinity Church in Tyrone, Pa. In 1955 he became the second youngest Rector of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Richmond. During his 14 years at St. Paul's, he oversaw the building of a new parish house, where special services for the hearing impaired were held and where the Adult Center for the physically handicapped was located. During his tenure, a preschool for hearing impaired children was based at St. Paul's. Active in community affairs, Bishop Heistand worked quietly for racial equality, garnering such respect from the Police Bureau that he was bestowed the Police Bureau Honor Roll Membership. In 1969 he became the Rector of St. Philip's in the Hills in Tucson, Arizona, where he served until his election as Bishop Coadjuter of Arizona in 1976. He was installed as Bishop in 1979. Bishop Heistand was a leader in the Arizona effort to establish a Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, to eliminate the state's death penalty, and to organize aid to the homeless. He fought for, and saw implemented, a state health plan for the poor. He brought the General Convention of the Episcopal Church to Arizona. Under his episcopate, Arizona church membership grew 20 percent, the average pledge doubled and 12 new parishes were received. Bishop Heistand retired in 1992 and moved to Richmond, where he served as the interim Rector of St. James' Episcopal Church twice, 1993 to 1994, and February 2000 to November 2000. Bishop Heistand will be remembered not only for the results of his gentle leadership in Arizona and Virginia, but also for compassionate pastoral care and his remarkable clarity of message in his sermons. Funeral services will be held Monday, October 20, 2008 at 2 p.m. at Westover Church in Charles City, Virginia. A memorial service will be held at St. John's In the Wilderness in Eagles Mere, Pennsylvania, in July. In lieu of flowers contributions can be made to the Bishop's Discretionary Fund of the Diocese of Arizona, 114 W. Roosevelt St., Phoenix, Ariz. 85003 or Westover Church, 6401 John Tyler Memorial Highway, Charles City, Va. 23030. Arrangements made by Bliley's.
This obituary was originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.