Dr. Richard "Dick" Heitmann

Dick was a brilliant man with a whit that could slice through marble. He could mesmerize you when he spoke, be it a wildly inappropriate joke told among a small group of friends, or a lecture delivered at a conference for the American Society of Animal Science. A rumored loose quote from a student: “To have a conversation with Dr. Heitmann, is to have a lecture with Dr. Heitmann.” He wasn’t great at the two-way conversation, but there was something about him that drew you in and you just wanted to be in his orbit, to absorb his knowledge. If he told you you did good, you really did good. The man did not bullshit a compliment. He made you earn it. He was passionate about his work and was most alive when immersed in research and with his graduate students. However, his favorite student at the University of Tennessee was without a doubt his niece Carly. He was proud to have her attend UT and she held a very special place in his heart.

Dr. Heitmann, eldest son of Marie Duryea Heitmann and Norman Heitmann was the first in the family to attend college and he chose the University of Maine to launch himself into the world of science. After graduation he pursued his Ph.D. at Cornell where he taught his daughter the techniques and importance of precise laboratory work. This would later greatly irritate his graduate students at UT who would have to hear about the child performing lab monkey work and if she could do it, you’d better not #$%* it up. There were breaks for the departmental softball team where he taught his daughter that even if you are not playing you should pay attention to where the ball is, and to attend Cornell University hockey games where his daughter taught him that hockey is serious business and illustrated that she possessed certain verbal skills observed in all Heitmanns when they are in the wild.

Dick was a single father in a time when divorce was still unusual and a father raising a child alone, much less a little girl, was an oddity to behold. He used to say it made him a pretty good chick magnet too. Dick taught himself to cook amazing meals and mix some very potent cocktails. Family, friends, food, cocktails, and music playing with the back doors open brought out the best in him.

We are not a one-dimensional person throughout our life. Dick held a different place in the lives of many people and to try to capture that here and mention everyone is impossible.

The family that survives him includes his daughter, brothers and sisters, granddaughters, nieces, and nephews. We loved him, we argued with him, we laughed with him, we lost him.

Daughter: Dee and Spouse Kevin and Granddaughters: McKenzie and Hannah

Sister: Nancy

Brother: Norman and Spouse Pat and Nieces: Kim and Kara

Brother: John and Spouse Carey and Nephews: Chris and Nick

Sister: Jo and Spouse Rick and Niece: Carly and Nephew: Tyler

Sister: Denise

The boxing is done for now Pop, laila tov

In lieu of flowers Dr. Heitmann requested donations to the University of Tennessee Animal Science Scholarship Fund. In the memo line please write “In memory of Dr. Richard Heitmann.”

Department of Animal Science

2506 River Drive

Knoxville, TN 37996

Phone: 865.974.7286