Andrew M. Heath Jr.

ANDREW M. HEATH, JR.

Longtime Westport resident Andrew M. Heath, Jr., pianist, conductor, and teacher, died Feb. 15 at the Jewish Home for the Aged in New Haven. He was 76 years old.

He was born in New York City and grew up in Concord, N.H.

Mr. Heath was a graduate of Harvard College and received a master's degree from the Yale School of Music. In the early 1960s, he toured the Far East as a "goodwill ambassador" for the U.S. State Department. In Vienna, he performed the European concert premiere of George Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue and Concerto in F for piano and orchestra. He appeared twice as piano soloist with Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops. He spent most of his career teaching at Fairfield University, where he founded the Music Department and started Fairfield's "Evenings of Music" concert series. In Westport, he was the organist and choir director at Saugatuck Congregational Church for more than 20 years.

Throughout his career he performed many piano recitals in the United States and abroad, including several two-piano concerts with his late wife, pianist Louise Stanley. Louise died in 2000.

In 1967 Mr. Heath was predeceased by his first wife, actress Liza Chapman, who was best known for her role as Janet Matthews on the NBC daytime drama Another World.

He is survived by his daughter, Honor, and three sons, Andrew, Duncan and David, six grandchildren, Elizabeth, Loren, Elias, Jacqueline, Ryan and Evan Marie. He is also survived by a brother, Fred, and a sister, Laura.

There will be a memorial service at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 9, at Saugatuck Congregational Church in Westport. The family is planning to hold a private ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.