Elizabeth R Heald

Libby, daughter of Harold V. and Katherine S. Roelse, was born in Albany NY on March 29, 1921. Her childhood and teenage years were spent in Montclair, NJ where she attended College High and was recognized as an outstanding field hockey player. Libby received a BA degree in Art History from Mount Holyoke College in 1942 where she met her husband-to-be John (Jack) T. Heald who graduated from Amherst College in the same year.

While Jack served aboard the destroyer, USS Converse, as a Supply Corps officer in the South Pacific during WWII, Libby lived and worked in the squadron's homeport of San Francisco waiting for his return. After the war, Libby and Jack raised a family of four boys living first in South Weymouth, then Marshfield and finally in Hingham, Massachusetts. During those years, Libby lived an active life as a volunteer at the South Shore Hospital in Weymouth and as a very competitive tennis player.

After Jack’s retirement from the shoe industry, they moved to Maine. Libby’s first project in her new state of residence was building a passive solar home in South Freeport. She attended Shelter Institute, designed the structure and worked with builders to construct their house, which overlooked the Harraseeket River and Casco Bay from a beautiful location on Highview Road.

After settling into their new home, Libby became active in every aspect of community life. She was a member of Colonial Dames of America, a docent at the Tate House in Portland, a volunteer at the Portland Museum of Art, a member of the South Freeport Investment Club, a Deacon as well as an active contributor to the Stewardship Committee of the South Freeport Congregational Church and a member of a number of committees and a Library volunteer at Piper Shores.

Libby is survived by her four boys and their spouses: David Heald and Sukie Curtis, Geoffrey and Brooke Hargreaves-Heald, Tom Heald and Lori Crabtree and John and Martha Heald; twelve grandchildren, Anna, Rebekah, Nathaniel, Rachel, Nicholas, Meaghan, Sara, Jason, Eric, Craig, Abby and Josh and his wife Kimberly; one great grandchild, Teddy; and her sister Eleanor Wesson as well as 4 nieces and 4 nephews. Libby was predeceased by her husband Jack, who passed away on February 24, 1998.

A memorial service and reception to celebrate her life will be held at St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church, 396 Gilman Road, Yarmouth, Maine at 11 AM on Saturday June 11.

Memorial donations can be made to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, 1311 Mamaroneck Ave. Suite 310, White Plains, NY 10605; The Campaign for Mount Holyoke at 50 College Street, South Hadley, MA 01075; or Preble Street Resource Center, 18 Portland Street, PO Box 1459, Portland, ME 04104.

Libby’s family wishes to thank the remarkably professional and talented staff at Piper Shores for their thoughtfulness and conscientious care during the 10 years that she was a resident.