CHARLES F. HEAPHY Jr.

Dr. Charles F. Heaphy Jr., 93, died Dec. 30, 2017, at Peppi's House, the Tucson Medical Center Hospice.

The son of Sylvia (Getz) Heaphy and Charles F. Heaphy Sr., Dr. Heaphy was born and raised in Norwalk, Conn., where he lived from his birth until 1990, when he moved to Yalaha, Fla. In 2005, he moved to Green Valley, Ariz., where he lived for 13 years before moving to Fellowship Square in Tucson in November 2017.

A practicing dentist for 45 years, he earned his bachelor's degree at Fordham University in Bronx, N.Y., and his D.D.S. at Columbia University College of Dental Medicine in Manhattan.

He met his wife of 68 years, Shirley (Zimmer) Heaphy, in 1947 at the Forsythe Clinic for Children in Boston, where he worked with poor and underprivileged children as a dental intern and she was a dental hygiene student. They were married in 1949.

Dr. Heaphy started a practice in Norwalk in 1951, but was drafted shortly thereafter and served in the U.S. Army as a first lieutenant in Erlangen, Germany, until 1953. When he returned to Norwalk, he again started his practice, which he continued until his retirement in 1989.

He was a dedicated bridge player and bowler, and throughout his career and life, he was involved in a wide range of activities in every community where he lived.

In Norwalk, he volunteered at a dental clinic for underprivileged children a clinic that his wife Shirley helped open. He was treasurer of the Norwalk Dental Society, a longtime member and deacon of the historic First Congregational Church on the Green in Norwalk and was involved in the United Way of Norwalk.

"He loved Norwalk," said Mrs. Heaphy. "But he also loved every place he ever lived."

In retirement in Yalaha, he gave much of his time toward volunteer activities, including at Leesburg Hospital in Leesburg, Fla., the Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Florida, and, along with his wife, he was one of the founders of the Pilgrims United Church of Christ in Fruitland Park, Fla., where he also served as a deacon and served on the church's Called to Care committee. For several years, he also worked at Beyers Funeral Home and Crematory in Leesburg, Fla.

Dr. Heaphy continued his community service upon moving to Green Valley, where he worked at the Green Valley Food Bank and later the Sahuarita Food Bank at Good Shepherd United Church of Christ, of which he was a devoted member and where he also served on the Pastoral Relations Committee and the Worship Committee.

Throughout his life, "he was a very kind, generous and compassionate man who loved his family," said Mrs. Heaphy.

He was predeceased by his sister, Margaret Olsen, and his oldest grandchild, Joshua Glick.

Besides his wife, Dr. Heaphy leaves his two daughters, Leeann Glick of Tucson and her husband Frank, and Elizabeth Feingold of New London, N.H. and her husband Jeff; his son John of Tucson and his wife Robin Westenhiser; his niece Georgia Woodward of Norwich, Conn. and her husband William; two granddaughters, Katherine Glick of Tucson and her partner David Rebel, and Megan Feingold of Brooklyn, N.Y., and her partner Michael Gibbons; and two grandsons, Matthew Glick of Middletown, Conn., and his wife Marta Nerin; and Benjamin Feingold of Kirkland, Wash. and his wife Lindsay.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Peppi's House, 2715 N Wyatt Drive, Tucson, Ariz. 85712 or the Sahuarita Food Bank, 17750 South La Caada Drive, Sahuarita, Ariz. 85629.

There will be a celebration of life service beginning at 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 10, at the Good Shepherd United Church of Christ in Sahuarita.



This obituary was originally published in the Green Valley News & Sun.