Gerald L. Heffernan ’52
Gerald L. Heffernan, Bristol, VT, died September 13, 2024.
He is believed to have been Bristol’s last surviving WWII veteran. Gerry was a lifelong educator, community volunteer, the kindest of human beings, and so many other things.
Born in a farmhouse in South Starksboro (VT), he was the second of nine children. He attended elementary school in Starksboro, residing for a time in the Little Ireland section of Starksboro. His eventual career as a teacher began while he was in sixth grade, teaching his siblings when they couldn’t get to the nearby one-room schoolhouse.
A conscientious and model student, Gerald graduated from Bristol High School in 1945, whereupon he immediately enlisted in the Navy. World War II at that point was drawing to a close; he was in boot camp when the war officially ended, but there was much work left to do. He was sent to radar training in Point Loma, CA., and later to Japan in December of 1945. There, he served as part of the allied occupation force that took him to Japan, Korea and China.
On July 6, 1946, he was assigned to the Subic-China Ship Group, stationed in the Philippines. Part of his unit’s task was to outfit a variety of recently decommissioned U.S. Naval vessels for use by Nationalist Chinese forces led by Chiang Kai-Shek in their struggle against communist forces of Mao Zedong.
Gerald was stationed in the Philippines until the end of March,1948, then spent the balance of his service at several Navy bases in California.
Upon his return to Vermont, Gerald enrolled at Saint Michael’s where he earned a bachelor’s degree in history in 1952. Two years later, he earned a master’s degree in education from the University of Vermont.
His many contributions to public education began during the 1950s, first at Richmond (VT) Elementary School, where he taught 8th-graders. He then taught both American and world history at Windsor (VT) High School for two years. Then came a two-year stint teaching history and social studies at Springfield (VT) High School.
His longest tenure was at the Darien (CT) High School, first teaching history, followed by his promotion to director of the school’s guidance department. He retired in 1998, whereupon he moved back to Bristol to be closer to his large, extended Heffernan family.
He was active in retirement. Gerald was a longtime leader of the Bristol Historical Society and worked tirelessly to chronicle Heffernan/Lafayette genealogy and family stories.
Gerald was an avid gardener and reader, his shelves adorned with hundreds of books. He was a major supporter of museums and the arts, attending countless concerts, film screenings and Broadway shows during his lifetime.
He was a lover of animals — particularly dogs. They beat a path to his door, knowing their best friend would shower them with affection and the treats he kept in a bag next to his chair.
Gerald is survived by two brothers and extended family.