Richard "Dick" A. Heimgartner

Richard A. “Dick” Heimgartner – husband to Jodie Heimgartner, father of three, grandfather of four, and good friend to all, passed away peacefully surrounded by love on August 22, 2022. Dick lived a good life. He was born in Hartford on January 6, 1949. He lived in Wethersfield all his life, graduating from Wethersfield High, class of ’67. At WHS he was a three-sport star athlete, excelling in football, basketball and baseball. One of his most meaningful honors in life was his induction into the Wethersfield Sports Hall of Fame.

After graduation from CCSU, Dick began dating Jodie, and they married in 1974. He worked as a teacher in town, switching careers to the insurance industry as his family grew. He understood the value of volunteering, and served as a member of the Wethersfield Board of Education and chaired the Town Parks and Rec Committee. He was a member of Wethersfield Country Club for 35 years and served on its Board and on the Membership Committee. Dick was a sweet, gentle, quiet guy, but beneath that mellow exterior was a very competitive spirit. He had the heart of a winner. Whether playing a board or card game or playing on the field, court or course, he was tough to beat. He enjoyed playing softball for many years; then golf became his passion. He was lucky enough to shoot three aces in his life, but luckier still to have made so many wonderful friends throughout his playing days.

Dick was a very good man and loving father. He was devoted to his children and their activities. Coaching them in their sports at all different levels brought him so much joy. There’s nothing he loved more than guiding and rooting them on, and this continued as he followed and delighted in all his grandchildren’s sports and activities.

Dick was blessed with and so proud of his three children and their mates for life: Kim and Jeff Dingler of Columbia, Jay and Marisa Heimgartner of Brooklyn and Thomas Heimgartner of Wethersfield. He leaves four beautiful, beloved grandchildren: Joshua and Jillian Dingler and Emma and Jack Heimgartner. He is also survived by his wife of 48 years, Jodie; brother, Robert and his wife Maureen Heimgartner of Wethersfield; sister, Joan Kowalsky of Newington; in-laws Jeanne and Bill Conrad of West Hartford; Tom and Maureen Willsey of Wethersfield; John and Laurie Willsey of Florida and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, Lena and Arthur Heimgartner; sister and brother-in-law Lynda and Andy Kissell; mother and father-in-law, Joyce and Bill Willsey and nephew, Chris Conrad. The family wishes to thank the staff at Seabury for the care and compassion shown to Dick during his stay.

A celebration of Dick’s life will be held at First Church of Christ, 250 Main Street, Wethersfield at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, August 26. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Dick’s memory may be made to Wethersfield Dollars for Scholars, Heimgartner Family Award, P.O. Box 290338, Wethersfield, CT 06129-0338 or American Parkinson’s Disease Assn. (APDA), P.O. Box 248, Shelton, CT 06484. The D’Esopo Funeral Chapel, Wethersfield is in charge of arrangements. To share a memory of Dick with his family, please visit www.desopofuneralchapel.com.