Born July 23, 1934 in Brooklyn, New York
Died February 2, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee
A loving husband, father, and grandfather
Survived by wife of 61 years, Elizabeth Heaney; daughter, Mary Beth Heaney-Gárate and Son-in-Law, Eduardo Gárate; Grandsons Sean Heaney, Joseph Gárate, and William Gárate; Brothers Robert Heaney and Raymond Heaney. He is preceded in death by parents, William J Heaney Sr and Vivian Benanti Heaney, son William J Heaney III.
He was a member of Christ the King Catholic Church for 56 years.
He graduated from the New York State School of Agriculture on Long Island (Farmingdale State College) and Adelphi University where he majored in chemistry.
He worked at Grumman Aircraft for 8 years where he contributed to the building of the Apollo Lunar Module. After leaving Gruman he worked as a forensic chemist at the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation where he retired after 25 years of service. He contributed to TBI’s implementation of the State’s formal breath alcohol testing program using the intoximeter.
