Nathan Heifetz

Nathan was born on October 2, 1928, in Brooklyn, NY to the late Samuel Heifetz and Berthé Goldman Heifetz. He was educated in public schools in Brooklyn and Binghamton, NY. Upon graduating from Binghamton High School in 1946, he joined the US Army where he was trained as a medic. He served in the Army of Occupation of Japan and in Japan occupied Korea. He was awarded the WWII Victory medal and the Army of Occupation Medal. Following his discharge in 1948, he studied at the State University of NY with the support of the GI bill, as well as engaging in his new-found hobby of groundhog hunting with a recently purchased .22 rifle.

A member of the Army Medical Dept. Reserve following his discharge, Nathan was recalled to active duty in 1950. He was stationed at Camp Edwards, MA where he married his fiancé, Barbara Jean Smith. Nathan and Barbara started their married life together in Wareham, MA where Nathan continued his work as civilian medical orderly at the Camp Edwards hospital following his discharge from active duty in 1951.

Barbara and Nathan’s first daughter Renée was born in 1952 in Wareham. They thereafter moved to the Washington, DC area where Nathan began work at the David Taylor Model Basin in Carderock, MD.

In 1957, the Heifetz’s second child, Jeanette was born followed by their son David in 1964. In 1958, Nathan began work as one of the first employees of NASA, at the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, MD where he managed data processing operations. He worked there for the ensuing thirty years, supporting multiple spaceflight missions which included Spacelab, Space Shuttle and Apollo XI. He retired from NASA in 1988.

Barbara and Nathan moved to Crystal River, Fl, following their retirement where he sang in a men’s choir, bowled in a league, and perfected his skill at playing the organ. They resided there until Barbara’s death in 2005. In 2006, Nathan moved to the Bishop Gadsden Retirement Community on James Island in order to be close to his daughter, Renée. During his 18 years at Bishop Gadsden, Nathan enjoyed a wonderful circle of interesting and entertaining friends which included his very special friend, Louise Ravenel. At BG, Nathan was a frequent participant in bridge tournaments, taught a music appreciation class, was a regular at trivia nights and served as the MC for the Italian Club’s annual production. He could always be counted on by BG’s less technologically literate residents for advice and help and in using their computers, cameras and other confounding electronic devices.

Nathan is survived by his daughters Renée Gibson (Paul) and Jeanette Welp, his son, David Heifetz (Andi), sister, Marilyn Popick, brother, Albert Heifetz as well as seven grandchildren, Jean Gibson, Rebecca Gibson, Abbie Gibson, Stephanie Reis, Ryan Welp, Grant Heifetz and Amelia Heifetz.

Nathan will be buried on November 17, 2023 at 10:00 A.M. in a graveside ceremony, Rabbi Jenifer Goldman presiding, next to his beloved wife of 54 years, Barbara at the Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell, FL.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Bishop Gadsden Office of Charitable Giving-Residents’ Fund, 1 Bishop Gadsden Way Charleston, SC 29412.

Macrini-Wilder Funeral Home, Homosassa, Florida.

www.macrini-wilderfuneral.com