Jackson E. Heffner ’46

Jackson Heffner died peacefully Jan. 3, 2011, at his son’s home in Cookeville, Tenn.  

Born in San Francisco Dec. 1, 1924, he grew up in Morristown, N.J. After attending Phillips Exeter Academy, he entered Princeton in 1942. Jack served in the Army from 1943 to 1945, returning to graduate in June 1947.

He studied at the University of California, Oslo University, the University of Massachusetts, and Stanford, where he earned a master’s degree in political science in 1954. He went to Kuwait and Iraq with the State Department as vice consul but withdrew because of polio. When he finally recovered, he went to work for Bethlehem Steel.

Jack began a long career in education at the Asheville School and then became assistant headmaster at the Masters School in Dobbs Ferry, N.Y. Several more school assignments preceded his 12-year term at The Webb School in Bell Buckle, Tenn., from which he retired in 1989.

A dedicated Episcopalian, Jack served in the Redeemer Church in Shelbyville, Tenn., and enjoyed his family and pets.  

He married Maria Brown in 1960, who survives him, as do their children, Jackson Jr. and his wife, Belinda, Loula Parks, Louisa Self and her husband, Mike, and Jordan Heffner; and four grandchildren. To them all, the class extends its deep sympathy.