Edward Heon

Edward Joseph Heon passed in the early afternoon on June 9th after almost 89 years of life at home with his family by his side. Ed leaves his children Christopher (Cindi) of Shelburne Falls, Daniel (Alison) of Casco, Maine, and Pamela Smith (Jeffrey) of Hatfield, seven grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. He also leaves his sisters, Carolyn O’Brien (her late husband Donald) of Leeds and Margaret Worden (her late husband James) of Greenfield. He was raised in Leeds and a longtime resident of Hatfield. Ed started his family when he married his high school sweetheart, Maureen Frances (Shea) Heon, on July 27th, 1957. Since then, “Ed n Mo” were side by side on the golf course and in their home until her passing in March of this year.

Ed graduated from Saint Michael's High in 1955, Holyoke Community College in 1957, UMass Amherst in 1959, and the Northeastern University MBA program in 1965. After, he pursued a long and dedicated career in business. He worked for Uniroyal, Sylvania, and SCM Corporation. He developed, pioneered, and operated several of his own companies, primarily in product data management for the Auto and Electrical Parts industry programs, concluding with the sale of DATAgility, Inc. to the IDEA Industry Data Management Association in 2022.

He received the Auto Care Association's Visionary Award for designing and developing their data standards program in 2006, which is currently in full use throughout the auto aftermarket.

Ed was a frustrated builder and remodeled and expanded every home he owned. He was an excellent life-long golfer, and loved by everyone at the Northampton Country Club. It was common for him to beat his age in his later years of golfing. He was a loyal and boisterous New England sports fan. He was an avid gardener and was widely known as the Dahlia Guru, decorating many a table with his beautiful flowers. He even started a Christmas tree farm with his family. He was a beloved patriarch and sought-after mentor to his children and grandchildren.

Calling hours will be Wednesday, June 18, 2025 at Ahearn Funeral Home, Northampton, from 4–6 pm, and again on June 19 from 10-11 am, followed by a prayer service from Fr. Michael Twohig at 11 am. Burial will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Leeds, where Ed will be laid to rest alongside his wife, parents, grandparents, and maternal great-grandparents.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Northampton Survival Center where Ed volunteered for many years.