Robert James Heelan

Robert James Heelan passed away Sunday October 26th at 93 years of age. Born in Mt. Vernon, NY to James P. and Margaret E. (ne O'Connor) Heelan, he met his high school sweetheart and future wife of 67 years, Edythe Combs, at A.B. Davis High School, before graduating in 1940. Robert served in the US Army 617th Field Artillery Observation Battalion, in both the Atlantic and European Theatre of Operations during World War II. Discharged in 1945, he joined the Mt. Vernon Police Department in 1946, and retired as a Lieutenant in 1971. He later worked as a Steamfitter as a member of United Association Local 21 Union, retiring in 1982.

Robert married Edythe in 1947, and later moved to and raised his family in Pelham NY, where he was a parishioner of St. Catharine's Church. He will be remembered for his passion for family, pride in his Irish Heritage, love of Big Band Music, all things sports, particularly his beloved NY Giants and NY Yankees, playing the saxophone, and piloting single engine planes. As evidence of his avid following of the New York Giants, he was inducted into The New York Football Giants Season Ticket Holder Hall of Fame, in December of 2013. He was extremely proud of, well liked and respected for, the years he spent coaching the St. Catharine's Grammar School basketball team to CAA Championships in the 1960's. After retirement Robert and Edythe were snowbirds dividing their time between Pelham and Port St. Lucie, FL and later Carmel, NY. They moved to Manchester CT in 2001, where Robert lived until his death.

Robert is survived by his wife Edythe, his children, Karen and husband Robert Fluegel; daughter Michelle Heelan, and son Brian Heelan and his wife Debbie. Deeply missed and always remembered by his grandchildren Thomas Cotter, Brian Cotter, Conor Heelan, Brian Heelan and his 2 great grand-children Thomas and Emma Cotter.

Relatives and friends are invited to Roberts Life Celebration Wednesday from 2-4 and 7-9 pm at The Pelham Funeral home 64 Lincoln Ave. Pelham, NY and also Thursday morning from 9:00 to 9:30am at the funeral home followed by his Mass of Christian burial 10:00am at the Church of St Catharine in Pelham NY. Interment to follow at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery New Rochelle.