Dr. Paul Richard Heath

Dr. Paul Heath was an outstanding leader in the higher education community. More importantly, he reflected the values of honesty, innovation, Christianity, friendship, and family. He loved Mary and his family. I had the pleasure of knowing them in Elgin and Bloomington, Illinois. He hired me as legal counsel and promoted me as the first female of color VP. He inspired and helped me to become a college president.

Great colleague who always inspired hope and determination

Each Christmas when I hear the Carol "I hear the bells on Christmas Day" I think of Dr. Heath, my former boss at Kellogg Community College. One Christmas he asked me to type out that hymn for his Christmas letter. Looking forward to a Heavenly reunion!

Mary, Kevin, Kathy and families, I am so very sorry to learn of Dr. Heath's passing! He certainly was an inspiration to me when I was hired at John Wood! His influence on this institution and the community will never be forgotten!

Paul is not an unfamiliar name to me, but I never got to know him personally. His family is another story and my heart goes out to their feeling of lose. To have lived such an exemplary life is an honor indeed, but it seems to make the lost all the more difficult. My you all feel God's comfort.

They called one another "Sugar". Theirs was a 56 year love story. Before he was Dr. Paul R. Heath, he was our Uncle Pete married to our beautiful Aunt Mary. He inspired our family long before he inspired the academic community. He taught me the saying "Red sky at night, sailors delight"....and that I could hear the ocean in a sea shell. He loved our family and Sparta, the little town where he was raised and played as a boy. He taught us to play hard and study harder. He also showed us, with...

Mary,Cathy,Kevin and all the grandchildren, our love and prayers were for you all today. We have many happy memories of Paul and his quite ways. May the Lord comfort you at this time. Love, Uncle Paul and Ethel, Ethel.

Dear Mary, I just read Pete's obit, and my heart and prayers are with you, so many nice memories of grade school, and high school. Take care and know your in my thoughts.

Nancy Johnson TenElshof