Col. Harold Heap

08/03/2001

Retired Col. Harold A. Heap, 82, of Springfield died early Friday morning at Baystate Medical Center. He served more than 33 years of active and reserve duty in the Army, retiring as a full colonel. Born in Adams on Feb. 14, 1919, son of Harold and Caroline Crooks Heap, he was a 1937 graduate of the former Adams High School. He earned his business degree in 1941 from Trinity College in Harford, Conn. An Army veteran of World War II, he served with Gen. George Patton's 3rd and 7th armies. He participated in the Battle of the Bulge and received the Bronze Star and France's Croix de Guerre for bravery in battle. He was commandant of the 1049th Reserve School and was a graduate of the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kan. He also served as military aide to former Massachusetts Gov. Foster Furcolo. He was employed at Mass Mutual Insurance Co. for 43 years, retiring in 1986 as director of customer relations. At the time of his death, he was serving on the boards of directors of Mass Mutual Federal Credit Union and of Pioneer Valley Credit Union Inc. He served as chairman of the United Way Campership Committee and the United Fund Committee, and was a founding member of the Van Horn Parents Association. He coached the former Van Horn sandlot baseball team He leaves his wife of 59 years, the former Mary McNulty. Besides his wife, he also leaves a daughter, Margaret H. Lieber of Newton; four sons, Harold A. Heap Jr. of Southwick, Thomas F. Heap of Ludlow, Gerald B. Heap of Springfield and Robert Heap of Wilbraham; a brother, Joseph Calvin Heap of New London, Conn., and six grandchildren. The funeral will be Tuesday morning at 10 in the Church of the Epiphany, Highland Avenue, Wilbraham, with burial in Gate of Heaven Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the United Way Campership Fund, 184 Mill St., Springfield, MA 01108.

Obituaries

Celebrating Lives & Legacies

Col. Harold Heap

Memorials