Michael (Mike) Wells Heron, 83, died October 4, 2020 at AtlantiCare Medical Center in Atlantic City, NJ from complications following a massive stroke.
Mike was born in 1937 in Santa Fe, NM to Nell F. Heron and Robert Heron. He was raised in Denver, CO and was an officer in the US Navy as a medical assistant with specialty training in the US Marine Corps Mountain Leadership Cold Weather Division prior to attending the University of Colorado in Boulder.
In college he met and married Hatty Walker and they had three sons. They lived in Denver until 1971 and then moved to Medford Lakes, NJ for 17 years.
In the late ‘80s, he divorced and began living with Barbara DeSimone in Ocean City, NJ. Barbara’s children also became part of his extended Heron family.
Throughout his life, Mike continued his personal education in all matters through avid reading and research in many varied areas, along with sharing his knowledge with others with the intent of helping them to better their lives. He was especially fond of collecting preserving and giving away 4 leaf clovers, sharing the joy of bubble blowing as a ‘bubble ologist’ while he continued to stay healthy physically and mentally (that included frequent garlic clove sandwiches). He spent much of his time building mobiles that he would give to others out of just about anything from metal to feathers. He had a passion for fishing that included tagging and tracking fish in Medford Lakes. He liked to refer to himself as an ‘inventor’, contributing to various patents in the medical field, along with assisting many individuals in their process of recovery from alcoholism and/or drug addiction.
He had a good sense of humor and was generous in helping others solve whatever problems they may have been going through. People really appreciated his dedication to their issues above his own. He was a humanitarian.
Mike is survived by his loving partner, Barbara DeSimone of Ocean City, NJ; sons Jim Heron (wife Janet, children Jillian and Jacob) of Medford, NJ, Will Heron (children Kiah and Elan) of Truro, MA and Bruce Heron of Provincetown, MA; sister Nancy Eslinger of Albuquerque, NM and brother John Heron of Estes Park, CO. His extended family includes; Barbara’s sons Raymond DeSimone (wife Donna, children Christian and Carolena), Grant DeSimone (wife Bunny, children Anna, Gina and Rocco) and daughter Caroline DeSimone.
A celebration of Mike’s life is planned for a date, time and place to be determined.
May God’s favor be on his children and his children’s children.
