Donna M. Heavey, a gifted teacher devoted to life long learning, died Thursday in Buffalo General Hospice due to complications from breast cancer. She was 70.
Born in Roscoe, N.Y., nestled in the Catskill Mountains, raised in Suffern, N.Y., the former Donna Lupo married and lived her entire adult life in Buffalo after coming to the city to attend SUNY Buffalo State College in the fall of 1965.
Donna worked in the Buffalo Public Schools for over 30 years, first at School 66 as a Library Aide and a Title I reading aide. She began teaching 6th grade at Southside Elementary School in 1984, which she called home until 2014, when she retired. “Mrs. Heavey,” a winner of the NYS Elementary Social Studies Teacher of the Year, was a font of knowledge and knew how to make learning impactful and fun. Donna cherished her time at Southside and parents and students alike maintained ties with her long after 6th grade.
Well known for her extensive work on curriculum and assessment Donna taught classes at the Buffalo Teacher Center, created city-wide exams and served on NYSED elementary social studies committees as well. As a member of the Social Studies Support Team, she conducted numerous staff development sessions for colleagues within the BPS, as well as presenting at several regional and state conferences.
An extraordinarily passionate reader and avid collector, she was acknowledged locally and nationally as an expert in and collector of antique celluloid advertising buttons, vintage lunch boxes, rare paper dolls, porcelain dolls and most of all, Disneyana. Begun when she was a young child, her mint collection of Disney memorabilia is unparalleled. She shared her expertise widely and generously with others.
Her knowledge of film and television was broad and deep; she had an encyclopedic mind and could recall and share vast amounts of information about movies, directors, actors and filmmaking. She was the “go to” person for in-depth history and vivid discussions about all things film.
Predeceased by her husband, Bernard and son, Timothy, survivors include, her son Jeffrey (Lucy), sisters, Ann and Sara-Jo, grandchildren, Mickey and Jack, nieces, Amy-Ann, Beth, Margaret, Abigail, Claudia, Cordelia, Bianca, Quinn, and nephews, Bailey and Donovan and lifelong friend, Kathy Creighton. Family will receive friends at the Dengler Roberts Perna Funeral Home 3070 Delaware Ave. Kenmore followed by
A Mass of Christian Burial will be in St. Margaret Catholic Church, 1395 Hertel Ave., Days and times to be announced. A memorial celebration at Forest Lawn Cemetery Chapel
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