D. James Heatherington

Jim was born in McKeesport, Pennsylvania on June 25, 1936, to the Honorable Thomas J. and Gertrude D. Heatherington. Thanks to a used VW bug she was trying to sell, Jim met and married Suzanne, his devoted wife of 63 years. Together, they reared their four children, Tom, Alice, Jim Jr. and Kate, at the corner of Jenny Lind and Soles Streets in McKeesport.

A graduate of the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science, Jim founded the D. James Heatherington Funeral Home in 1962, which he operated until his retirement in 2003. Also in the 60s, he launched the McKeesport Private Ambulance Service. Jim and Suzanne worked tirelessly together and built an incredibly successful business. For more than 30 years, the company served McKeesport Hospital (later UPMC McKeesport), as well as patients and hospitals throughout Allegheny County.

Jim’s commitment to his local hospital resulted in years of board service both in his community and beyond. He was Chairman of UPMC McKeesport, as well as on its and UPMC’s board of directors. In addition, he served on the boards of Shenango Presbyterian Senior Housing, Inc., the Pittsburgh Care Partnership, the Penn State McKeesport (now Greater Allegheny) Advisory Board, McKeesport Healthier Communities Partnership, the Carnegie Library of McKeesport, and the Mon-Yough Chamber of Commerce Foundation. Jim was an honored member of the Chamber Alliance for 29 years.

He was especially proud of his 35 years of service on the board of the McKeesport Hospital Foundation, where he served as its President from 1992 until 2003. With Jim’s family, the Foundation recently established the D. James Heatherington Scholars Fund in Jim’s honor to support nurses who choose to begin their careers at UPMC McKeesport.

Jim was a former deputy coroner of Allegheny County and was elected to two terms on the McKeesport City Council. As councilman, Jim first served as Director of Public Safety, where he instituted a new program of advanced firefighter training. After the city’s change to home rule charter, Jim served as the first city council president. He was a veteran of the US Army and Pennsylvania National Guard.

Jim was a lifetime member of the Rillton Volunteer Fire Department, a member of the McKeesport Knights of Columbus, and a proud member of the Italian Brotherhood of Guffey. A restorer and collector of antique cars, Jim and Suzanne toured much of the country as members of many antique automobile clubs, where he now leaves many friends behind. All four children carry special memories of weekend car shows when they were growing up, and Jim living his dream of driving his 1930 Model A Ford in the famous Glidden Tour.

Jim adored his eight grandchildren: Brendan and Garrett, sons of Thomas and his wife, Amy (Patterson); Cecily and Eliza James, daughters of Alice and her husband, Jim Kocis; Geoffrey and Alex, sons of James Jr. and his wife, Anna (Chertukhina); and Kendall and Meredith, daughters of Katherine and her husband, Rick Endres. In addition to immediate family, Jim leaves behind devoted nieces and nephews: the children, grandchildren and great-grands of his beloved brothers, Bob and Gerry, who predeceased him.

Family and friends are invited to gather and honor Jim’s memory at Strifflers of White Oak Cremation and Mortuary Services, Inc., 1100 Lincoln Way, White Oak, PA 15131 (412-678-6177) on Saturday, August 2, 2025 from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Additional gatherings will be held again at Strifflers on Sunday, August 3, 2025 from 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. and again from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, August 4, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. at Mary, Mother of God Parish, St. Angela Merici Church, 2701 Kelly Street, White Oak, PA 15131. A funeral cortege led by a Rillton Volunteer Fire Company firetruck and members of local antique car clubs will pass by UPMC McKeesport following the Mass. Interment will follow at New St. Joseph Cemetery, 1443 Lincoln Highway, North Versailles, PA 15137.

Per Jim’s request, it was his desire to have his dear friend Edward P. Kanai, Jr. of Edward P. Kanai Funeral Home in Greenfield, PA, work together with the Striffler family (where Jim started his funeral service career) for his final arrangements.

Should friends desire, memorial contributions may be made in Jim’s name to the McKeesport Hospital Foundation/Heatherington Scholars Fund, 1500 Fifth Avenue, McKeesport, PA 15132.