James Howard Heffron

James Howard Heffron, born March 6, 1930 in Anaheim, CA, passed away on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 26, 2020 at his home in Los Alamitos, CA. He was 90 years old.

Jim, as most people knew him, was one of two children of James Henry and Helen Lucille (Marsh) Heffron. He grew up in Anaheim, attending St. Catherine’s Military Academy and Anaheim Union High School before enlisting in the army and serving in Japan and Korea. Jim returned home in 1952, and married his sweetheart, Alberta, in 1955.

Always devoted to his family, Alberta and their children: Matt, Tim, and Rosanne, Jim coached Tim’s little league, learned karate with Matt, and played golf with Rosanne. Jim practiced his Catholic faith with the family at St. Hedwig Catholic Church in Los Alamitos. He was active in the Holy Name Society, and all his children attended the parish elementary school.

Loved by his students and recognized by his peers, Jim was a teacher for over 55 years. He began his career at Los Angeles High School and then Fairfax High School. After completing his Master’s degree in 1963, he transitioned to teaching business at Los Angeles Harbor College in Wilmington, and moved his family to their current home in Los Alamitos. Jim was also the Harbor College Varsity Men’s Tennis Coach for many years. He finally retired in 2010.

Jim was always athletic. His father had been a professional baseball player before enlisting to serve in World War I, and returned to become a renowned sportswriter for the Anaheim Bulletin. As a result, Jim grew up in the company of professional athletes. He loved and played baseball, football, and basketball in school. Later he became an avid tennis player, golfer, and sports enthusiast. Always quick with a joke, a quote, or a sports statistic, he made friends wherever he went. After eventually being forced to give up tennis due to bad knees, he spent his spare time playing or watching golf, working in the yard, and caring for Alberta.

Jim was a strong, independent man who beat stage 4 melanoma cancer several years ago. In late October, it came back aggressively, and then on Sunday, November 22 ^nd he suffered a stroke. The stroke and cancer proved to be too much, so it was decided he would come home to be surrounded with family for his remaining days. Jim succumbed to the illness Thanksgiving Day in the company of his family.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents, James and Helen; his sister Pat; and grandchildren Angela, Joseph, and Stephen.

He is survived by Alberta, his wife of 65 years; his children Matt, Tim, and Rosanne; daughters-in-law Susan and Lisa; eight grandchildren: Sarah, James, Cynthia, Michelle, Rachel, Mary, Catherine, and Michael; spouses of grandchildren: Jessyica and Steven, and six great-grandchildren: Micah, Adriana, Lucy, Isaiah, Liliana, and Delilah.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to:

Precious Life Shelter, Los Alamitos https://www.preciouslifeshelter.org/

American Cancer Society, Inc., Atlanta https://donate3.cancer.org/

Alzheimer's Association, Chicago https://act.alz.org/donate