Catherine Eugenia Healy

1920 - 2012

Catherine Eugenia “Jean” Healy, wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, died September 8, 2012 in San Diego, CA.

Born in Pensacola, FL, September 29, 1920, she was the daughter of St. Petersburg native Albert Whitted, one of the first U. S. Naval aviators and a civil aviation pioneer, and Frances Brent, youngest daughter of a prominent Pensacola family.

Following her father’s death in a plane crash in 1923, her mother married U. S. Naval aviator Harold F. Fick, who adopted Jean and her sister, Frances. The family lived in Pensacola, Coronado, Washington, D.C. and Norfolk, Virginia.

Following graduation from Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School in Washington, D.C., her family moved to Honolulu, where she met Ensign Charles Edward “Chuck” Healy, a U. S. Naval aviator. They were married in Honolulu on May 18, 1940, moving to California just prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor.

During Chuck’s naval career, Jean was a dedicated and loving full-time homemaker and mother, yet she found time to volunteer in the community as well.

During their 63 year marriage, Jean and Chuck lived in Coronado, Rhode Island, Virginia, Arizona, Florida, Washington and Puerto Rico, where Captain Healy retired in 1967. They subsequently moved to Rochester, NY, and Alexandria, VA, where Jean was a partner in Iberian Imports, a Spanish and Portuguese specialty store. Returning to Coronado in 1974, Jean and Chuck opened Iberian West in La Jolla, specializing in interior décor with a kitchen shop and cooking classes. Jean also operated Adventures Unlimited in the Gaslamp District of San Diego.

Over many duty tours Jean was recognized for her service to Girl Scouts, The Red Cross and the Navy Relief Society. A member of the Altar Society of Sacred Heart Church in Coronado, Coronado Crown Garden Club, Coronado Republican Women and Coronado Floral Association, she was also active in drama and theater groups. She served as Chapter Chairman for the San Diego Symphony Auxiliary in Coronado in 1986.

Jean loved bridge, flower arranging and entertaining. She and Chuck were avid Charger fans for many years. Travel took them to Europe, the Mediterranean, the Caribbean and Hawaii.

She is survived by daughters Linda Miller, of Grayslake, IL, Anne Field, of Atwater, CA, and Lucy Jackson (Thomas) of San Diego, seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Girl Scouts San Diego Council, 1231 Upas St. San Diego CA 92103.

The family wishes to thank Jean’s dedicated caregivers, the Nazareth House staff and San Diego Hospice for their loving care.

The rosary and viewing will be held at 6:00 p.m. Friday at Sacred Heart Church, Coronado.

Services to be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday at Sacred Heart Church, Coronado.

Jean will be buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in San Diego beside her late husband, Chuck, who died in 2003.