Obituaries
John F. Heisig Sag Harbor Age 94: Sept. 24, 1924 - April 30, 2019
Although living in Sag Harbor John was known all over the Hamptons as a gentleman and for his wonderful knowledge and wisdom.
It is with a very heavy heart that I write about the passing of my very good friend John Francis Heisig on April 30, 2019 at 8:35 am. He was a guiding light and inspiration not only to me but to so many. Born September 24,1924, John was 94 years old and was very proud of his service in the United States Coast Guard (meteorologist aboard ships) protecting allied convoys during World War II off Greenland and Iceland (8-31-43 to 4-16-45.)
John was a Kent State graduate as well as a yacht aficionado, liquor salesman and a Mercedes Benz buff. However the true weight of who John Heisig was can best be measured by the great respect everyone had for his advice and wisdom. With a keen wit and a devilish smile John always displayed his quick wit, his talent for an appropriate joke, and providing a saying or story to help others figure things out.
He loved bragging about his dad Theodore F Heisig’s professional bicycle racing skill that was curtailed in order to provide for his wife Margaret Kiernan Heisig when she had her first child (Ted).
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John Heisig was devoted to the memory of his deceased wife Valarie and his stepson with her Vittorio Cottafavi. He was extremely proud of his brother Ted Heisig (deceased) and his younger brother William “Bill” Heisig, who’s artwork was proudly displayed around John’s Sag Harbor home. I never visited John once without him showing me a latest photo of his niece Allaire Heisig, the NYU educated daughter of brother Bill and his lovely and talented artist wife Aleta Heisig.
Someone wrote me that John was a “collector of people,” and while that was true, I believe he was much more than that, he was a true friend of so many people. He’d come when your car or boat broke down, he’d make calls to find the right person to help all his friends with their specific problems. He followed through.
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When I first became a Hamptons writer in 2004 it was John who fed me so many amazing stories and lined up people to interview. He refused to be in any of the articles always saying he wanted to “fly under the radar.” He possessed an encyclopedia caliber memory with total recall. Walking around the Hamptons with him was an experience, John was like an honorary mayor wherever we went.
John Francis Heisig was a gentleman, a tall presence of grace and elegance who never raised his voice even when upset. He was one of the classiest men I have ever met. I was so proud to have him as my friend.
