William M Heady

William Michael Heady, 69, of Union, N.J., passed away on Sunday, August 14, 2016. Bill was born in Newark, N.J. and raised in Springfield, N.J. He married Pamela Busch Heady, celebrated 45 years of marriage and raised their family in Union, N.J. Bill retired after 43 years as an educator and administrator with Newark Public Schools. Bill graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University, before earning his M.Ed. from Kean University. He began his career with Newark Public Schools as an art teacher at Arlington Elementary School. Bill served as a Vice Principal of Malcolm X Shabazz High School, as Principal of West Kinney Alternative High School, and ended his career retiring as the Principal of Samuel L. Berliner Elementary School. Easily identified by his big beard, Bill was a coach in Union Little League, an active parent at St. Benedict's Prep., a devoted member of the Church of St. Theresa, including as a Eucharistic Minister and a member of its Social Concerns Committee, and he raised fourteen puppies with The Seeing Eye of Morristown, N.J. Without question, above all things, Bill enjoyed sharing time with his family, including the many friends he considered and treated as his family. Bill had a particular love for his grandchildren and laughing until his eyes swelled. An ever-loving husband, father of five and grandfather of six, Bill is survived by his wife, Pamela, and his children, Alison Mercurio of Long Valley, N.J., her husband Peter and three children (Luke, Kylie and Tyler), Matthew Heady of Lawrence, N.J., his wife Lora and three children (Benjamin, Samantha and William), Justin Heady of Walnut Creek, Cali. and his girlfriend Joanna, Jared Heady of Hoboken, N.J. and his fiancé Perla, Joshua Heady of Union, N.J. and his girlfriend Jenny, and an additional "son" Christopher Henry who became a member of his family in a special way. Bill is also survived by his sisters, Kathy DiNicolo, Barbara Jean Schoen and Donna Hicks. There will be a visitation on Thursday, August 18, 2016 from 4:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the McCracken Funeral Home, 1500 Morris Avenue, Union, N.J. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, August 19, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. at The Church of St. Theresa, 541 Washington Avenue, Kenilworth, N.J. For more information or to send condolences to the family, visit mccrackenfuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Bill may be made to St. Benedict's Prep., 520 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., Newark, N.J. 07102, sbp.org or The Seeing Eye, P.O. Box 375, Morristown, N.J. 07963, seeingeye.org.