Joan M. Heggen

Joan M. Heggen, passed away Sunday, July 10th, from complications of pneumonia at her son’s home in Newnan, Georgia. She was 85. A memorial service will be held in the City Commission Chamber at City Hall (2nd floor) at 1:00 PM, Saturday, July 16th. A reception for family and friends will follow on the mezzanine outside the chamber. Moving to Tallahassee in 1968 with her husband and three children, Joan started working in the education system of Leon County. Joan was elected as a City of Tallahassee Commissioner in1972, then served one year as Mayor. She continued her public service when she was appointed as Secretary of the Department of Veteran’s/Community Affairs during the Bob Graham administration. She then accepted the position of heading up Health and Public Safety for Broward County. After three years, her desire to “come home” brought her back to Tallahassee where she served as Assistant County Administrator until her retirement. Joan was born in 1930, the third of 4 daughters, to Roy and June Reidy, in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. As a student, she took an interest in education and later developed a love for debate. Attending the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire, she was part of a debate team that competed in the 1953 National Debate Tournament at West Point. Although the team didn’t win, she was awarded 1st place as the outstanding individual speaker. In 1985, she was awarded the Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award from the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire. Around Tallahassee, Joan could be found in the stands of high school baseball fields, watching her son play baseball, and in auditoriums watching her daughter and other son performing in school productions. She attended FSU football games and was active in the athletic booster clubs where her sons went to high school. She was known to her friends as someone to talk about issues of the day with over a cup of coffee. Joan also liked to visit cities that had slot machines, a favorite pastime of hers. Joan is survived by daughter Sara Heggen, sons Jeff (Ruth) Heggen, and Jon Heggen; grandchildren Robert (Jill) Richstone, Brett (Kara) Richstone and Matt Heckroth; and great grandchildren Joshua Richstone and Annabelle Richstone In lieu of flowers, gifts in memory of Joan may be made to the American Diabetes Association (diabetes.org/donate). Rocky Bevis of Bevis Funeral Home in Tallahassee (850/385-2193 or www.bevisfh.com) is assisting the Heggen family with their arrangements.

Tributes

Joan M. Heggen

July 10, 2016