Carol Heimann
1934 – 2021
On December 12, 2021, Carol Heimann, 87, decided it was time to rejoin her predeceased husband Herb and son David.
Born in Brooklyn, New York on September 26, 1934, Carol had a tough childhood. From a young age she was the strong protector for her sweet mother, Stella, and younger sisters, Stella and Mildred. Carol was determined to create a better, more stable life for herself and pursued that goal with gusto. Her creativity, organization, and determination allowed her to be successful in whatever she did – even playing piano at the famed Carnegie Hall by the tender age of 14. Aptly described in her high school newspaper as a “young miss whose activities reflect perpetual motion”, Carol went on to become her school president and valedictorian before embarking on a career as a highly sought after hair stylist.
One 1964 winter afternoon, Carol found her perfect match, the yin to her yang, when Herbert Heimann charmed her at a Mount Snow après ski bar. This dashing, extroverted Jewish boy provided the stability, warmth, and ease she had always sought. She converted to Judaism and they married, eventually completing their family with the arrival of David (1968) and Mark (1970). Carol blossomed as a mother, putting all of her energy into raising her two boys and sharing with them her many talents and skills. Summers were spent on Lake Garfield in the Berkshires – this was their happy place where life was simple. Carol was a natural home designer and a phenomenal cook, always excited to entertain guests. Thanksgiving was her favorite holiday as it combined her love of family, planning, and cooking. Her stuffed artichokes were legendary!
When her boys reached high school, Carol returned to the job market as a special events coordinator and eventually the heartbeat of the Executive Television Workshop as its office administrator and Director of Marketing. It was a perfect fit for Carol, who was always a dominant force and in control of everything she did.
But life has a way of reminding us that ultimately no one is truly in control. Their son David’s tragic death in 1987 forever changed Carol and Herb. They persevered and supported each other and others with the help of The Compassionate Friends, a wonderful organization that supports bereaved parents and siblings. But their days grew darker. Herb was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and as it got progressively worse, Carol was his advocate and champion, tirelessly looking after his every need until the day he died. She was and had always been a fiercely loyal friend, partner, and parent. While she suffered no fools and had no problem giving people her unfiltered opinion, she was definitely the person you would want in your corner when you needed help.
Though Carol lost her husband and one son, she never lost her voice or force and always made her presence and thoughts known. You can take the girl out of Brooklyn, but you can’t take Brooklyn out of the girl! She moved to Hamilton, New Jersey at the beginning of this year to be closer to her surviving family: her son Mark, daughter-in-law Lara, and grandchildren Olivia and Jonah. They are grateful to have been able to spend more time with her this past year, including one final Thanksgiving.
A private funeral will be held on Tuesday, December 14, 2021. If you would like to honor Carol, please consider donating in her memory to The Compassionate Friends, a national organization that supports families after the death of a child.