03/30/2026
We send our sincere condolences to the Heffern family .
Sometimes, little girls grow up and marry their fathers. Judy Hull did. Like his father-in-law, Ed Heffern was all substance and no flash. Humility, morality, and kindness personified. A true gentleman who earned the respect of everyone he ever met. Never one to talk for the sake of filling empty air, when he spoke, his words were either thoughtful, helpful, or funny. Often, all three.
People cared so much about what he had to say that Judy was known to wield the weight of his words when her ideas needed reinforcement. Their kids were rendered powerless by the phrase, “Your father and I think . . . .” There was only one situation in which Ed chose to use more words instead of fewer. If you asked him for directions, you were wise to get yourself a drink and a comfy chair first; you were going to be there a while. His directions were always flawless, but they may have taken longer than the drive.
Thirty-two years ago, Ed and Judy moved from Green Island to a cozy camp on Cossayuna lake. There was no place on earth he was happier than in his chair on the dock, Johnnie Walker Red in hand, his best boy Benji on his lap, and his best friend Judy by his side. When the summer people went away and ice claimed the lake, Cossayuna could become a desolate place.
Being an introvert, Ed didn’t mind. He summed it up perfectly, telling Judy, “I’m not a people person. I’m a person person. And you’re my person.”
Still, he couldn’t have been better to the people in his orbit. On Hemlock’s Lane, Ed was known as The Neighborhood Watch. Not because he spied out the window watching for bad guys, but because he was a good guy, watching out for his neighbors. He was the guy who noticed if your camp was about to flood in the spring melt and grabbed his shovel to divert the flow. Or checked the propane level to save your camp from freezing. Or broke in and built a fire so your arrival would be cozy instead of cold.
Ed found joy in many places. Watching the Yankees and the horses at the track and the storms rolling in over the lake. Taking trips to Maine and Lake Placid and spring break in Arkansas. Savoring a good sauerbraten dinner or a bowl of mint chocolate chip ice cream or Friday night pizza and beer. Enjoying the company of dear friends like the Carlascios, Caulkins, Murphys, and Quackenbushes. And laughing. Laughing until his face went beet red at the stories his brother Jack told, or the dumb moves his family made as he creamed us at Mexican Train, or the never-ending antics of his favorite source of entertainment: his beloved Judy.
The most important things in his life were Judy and God, in no particular order. It’s impossible to imagine a better husband for Judy than Ed. His love, affection, and patience knew no bounds. Married 66 years, they share a bond that other couples admire and aspire to. His devotion to God spanned from childhood altar boy days to his final job working at Christ the King Spiritual Life Center.
The years in between were spent sharing his faith and belief in the sacrament of marriage with innumerable people through Engaged Encounter, Marriage Encounter, Cursillo, and REC (Residents Encounter Christ) Prison Ministry.
Not knowing Ed as we do, his oncologist gave him a year when he was diagnosed with cancer. He survived twice that, never losing his sense of humor or voicing a single complaint through all the miseries cancer had to spew. His final days were spent at home under the care of our incredibly kind hospice team—Tracy, Lisa, and Karen—and his loving family: Judy, Beth, Bill, Susan, and Benji, who was a comfort to the very end. Ed died peacefully in the night, while we slept around him. A final courtesy.
We’re very grateful to Dr. John Mongan and his staff at Saratoga Oncology/Hematology, especially the wonderful Jordyn, and Saratoga Hospital, especially Matt, Michelle, Laurel, and Dr. Catherine Dawson.
Ed will be sorely and eternally missed by his wife, Judy; his children, Beth Heffern (Bill Tereski), Bill Heffern, and Susan Heffern-Shelton (Dan Shelton); his grandchildren, Ed Heffern (Danielle), Will Heffern, Alex Heffern (Kaylee), Lacey Jerome, Jessica Earnest (James), and Daniel Shelton; his great-grandchildren, Lucas, Leo, and Madelyn Heffern, and Kai Earnest; and his constant companion and shadow, Benji.
As we read the flood of kind remarks pouring in from all corners of the country, we wonder how a humble man like Ed might feel about all of this. Most likely a combination of surprise, embarrassment, and pride. What might he say at the end of such a long and beautiful life? Maybe the same simple prayer he said at the end of each of their CHQ gatherings: Thank you for this special time with our dearest friends.
Thank you, Ed, Dad, Papa, for the special time we had with you, the dearest man.
The family has chosen to hold a private family gathering at the lake instead of a funeral. In lieu of flowers, we would encourage donations to The Community Hospice of the Capital Region so they can continue helping other families as they helped ours.
Online condolences and messages to the family may be made at www.flynnbrosinc.com
