Jon Heckerman:
CLASS OF 1967
Central High SchoolClass of 1967
Piqua, OH
University of Iowa - Graduate CollegeClass of 1976
Iowa city, IA
University of Dubuque Theological SeminaryClass of 1975
Dubuque, IA
Parsons CollegeClass of 1971
Fairfield, IA
Central High SchoolClass of 1967
Piqua, OH
Jon's Story
Life
Born and received primary and high school education in Piqua, Ohio, where most of my ancestors had resided for at least a hundred years. BA in History and Political Science from Parsons College, Fairfield, Iowa. MDiv from University of Dubuque, Dubuque, Iowa. Active in Presbyterian ministry in Texas 1977 to 1985: left as first marriage was ending and my beliefs were growing more inclusive. Now remarried to a wonderful Southern woman. I worked for nearly twenty years in hotels in the Myrtle Beach, SC, area. We moved to Fuquay-Varina (near Raleigh), NC, in 2008 to advance my wife's management career in medical office software. Due to health problems I'm currently doing duty as "househusband" and not otherwise emploved. No kids, several nieces and nephews, 3 pampered housecats who think I'm their butler, too. Life is good!
Always glad to hear from old classmates.
School
My education began at Spring Street School in Piqua, Ohio. It continued at Nicklin Avenue School after we moved while I was in the fifth grade, and then at Wilder Junior High and Piqua Central High School. I am still in contact with a few friends dating back to grade school or later and have many good memories of several excellent teachers.
College
My college career began disastrously with the fall term of 1967 at Bowling Green State University in Ohio. Huge classes, tv lectures monitored by indifferent grad students and a physically abusive roommate in an overcrowded dorm convinced me to leave and seek an education elsewhere.
I enrolled in the spring of 1968 at Parsons College, a school both famed and defamed for giving students a second opportunity, small classes and actual contact as undergraduates with real, Ph.D. professors who enjoyed teaching. I graduated with a BA with honors in my two majors of political science and history and a broad liberal arts education. During my college years I was involved with the campus radio station, student senate, the fencing club,...Expand for more
a hiking, camping and cave-exploring organization and the interdenominational Campus Religious Fellowship. I also took some lead in the peaceful protests against the U.S. involvement in south east Asia on campus and in the community.
Workplace
My work experience began with helping my grandparents on their farm in Springcreek Township in early childhood. By age nine or so I was helping in the kitchen of the Roxy Restaurant and Bar, a Piqua institution which my parents operated.
When my mother took over as manager of the Hotel Fort Piqua at the beginning of my first year of high school, I became involved in the innkeeping field. I progressed from helping the houseman to bellhop and elevator operator to assisting behind the front desk and continued there when home from college in the summers.
Following graduation from college and marriage I worked in life and health insurance sales in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, my first wife's home town. I then went on to seminary at the University of Dubuque. Following some additional graduate studies at the University of Iowa I was ordained as a Presbyterian minister and served in small towns north of Dallas, Texas, for seven years. In my final position I was working with a small congregation as a "tentmaking" minister and also employed full-time by the State of Texas in human services.
I left ministry as my first marriage was ending and returned to sales, eventually as a store manager for Radio Shack in Long Beach, New York, and then in South Carolina as a salesmaker in a busy mall store in Myrtle Beach.
I then returned to the innkeeping field which I had enjoyed so much in my youth. I worked in large oceanfront resorts and smaller motels too, enjoying the varied clientel in each. My favorite was a 600 acre historic rice plantation which includes a prerevolutionary main house as part of its operation.
Due to some health issues, I am presently employed as a "househusband" in a wonderful small town near Raleigh, NC.
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