WILLIAM HEFFERNAN Obituary

My condolences to the Heffernan family. I was a student of Mr. Heffernan´s in 1979 and later in 1990. He was a wonderful teacher. May he rest in peace.

Professor Heffernan´s graduate level law class at John Jay was the most challenging, frustrating, and rewarding course I have ever taken.
He was famous for allowing students to respond, then ask "But what about...?"
I used this experience in my own courses for years citing his challenging brilliance as, in large part the reason I became a professor.
I could never begin to fill his shoes, but am so appreciative of his well aimed use of them.
Sadly and sorely missed. Thank you Sir.

It was Bill who was intellectually responsible for my coming to the US in 1984, and then to a permanent position in 1986, initially for a 5-year stint co-editing Criminal Justice Ethics, eventually extending to 27 years. The only child of a remarkable mother, there was no one more brilliant and challenging, more self-critical and committed to an enlightened education that eschewed fashionable categories without ignoring them. His family and generations of students, as well as Fourth Amendment scholarship, are testimony to his devotion.

Dear Heffernan Family,

I am deeply sorry for your loss. William was a very kind man, and it was truly an honor to know him and care for him. He always treated me with warmth and respect, and I will remember his gentle nature and kindness.

Please know that my thoughts are with you during this difficult time. May you find comfort in the many memories of his long and well-lived life.

With sincere sympathy,
Ana Abreu

What a shock and sadness! I joined the faculty of the Department of Law, Police Science and Criminal Justice Administration at John Jay in September,1985, and quickly came to know Bill. He was a Fourth Amendment eminence. Moreover, he was an amiable colleague, a dear person in every sense. He and perhaps two or three others provided our intellectual core.

I knew Bill as an extraordinarily intelligent and kind man who loved and cared deeply for his family. He was a thoughtful friend with a passion for learning and ideas. He shared his insights on politics and so many other subjects, always with respect for different perspectives. Most of all he was devoted to his wife Denise and to his family. He will be forever missed.

We will always remember Bill as a warmhearted and inspiring person. He was a true friend of mankind, and his humanity was exemplary. We are grateful to have called Bill our friend, always there in good times and in difficult ones. He will live on in our fondest memories.

Marion, Patrick, Leo and Paula. Bern, Switzerland

We met Bill 3 years ago and we were very impressed with his incredible knowledge and incisiveness. His knowledge about our South African constitutional history was engaging and we thoroughly appreciated his critique. We will miss having those robust conversations with him.

My first adult friend. I became a person in his reflection.