John Esq.

John Michael Heley of Bedminster Township passed away peacefully in his sleep after a long illness on November 10, 2018. He was 73 years old. He is survived by his family of which he was an active and beloved member. He and his wife Joyceann M. (Costa) Heley celebrated 44 years of marriage in August. They shared many celebrations in their years together, including his most recent birthday, surrounded by the good friends he loved. In September, he celebrated the first birthday of his granddaughter, Frances, with his daughter Kathryn Heley and her husband Sean Pink. In June, he spent time showing his grandsons Abbot and Mercer the joys of the seashore with his daughter Jessica Heley and her partner Merton Lee. He was surrounded in his life not only by his wife, daughters and grandchildren, but also by his sister and brother-in-law, Mary Lou and Neal Hickle, their children Karyn, Lynne and Craig, as well as his brother-and sister-in-law David and Eileen Costa and their daughters Alexandra and Jacquelyn. Born on September 23, 1945 in Pittsburgh, Pa., John was the son of the late Kathryn (Zeiler) Heley and the late Michael Heley. He was a graduate of Carrick High School in Pittsburgh; earned a B.A. in English from Bucknell University; attained an M.A. in English from Kansas State University and received his J.D. from Rutgers University, where he graduated as a Dean's Scholar. After graduation from law school, he served as a federal clerk to Judge Edmund V. Ludwig in the U.S. District court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. In his early career, his focus was on helping youth. He taught college students who struggled with basic literacy skills. He was a counselor at The Youth Development Center (Y.D.C.), with the goal of supporting young men in their rehabilitation after entering the juvenile justice system. Inspired by the young people he worked with at Y.D.C., John was motivated to engage young people in meaningful ways that could provide opportunities and training to prevent them from ever entering or reentering the justice system. He became a founding member of Youth Services Agency of Bucks County (Y.S.A.) and pursued his work in youth advocacy and outreach as a case manager and eventually as acting director. Following his tenure at Y.S.A., John entered the job that he believed he would retire from: Executive Director of Big Brothers of Bucks County. In his years in this position, he was able to mobilize the resources of the community at large to connect them with the children who needed them so much. This work always remained close to his heart. With a desire to have a broader impact, John's experiences eventually led him to a career in law. Although he had offers to practice in a number of prominent, urban law firms, John chose to stay in Bucks County because he wanted to be a loving and involved presence in his family's lives. After a short stint as a partner in a Newtown law practice, John went out on his own, establishing the Heley Law Office in Quakertown, PA, where he happily practiced for most of his 33 years as an attorney. During that time, he was a Rotarian, President of the Upper Bucks Chamber of Commerce, and was on the boards of Y.S.A. and the United Friends School in Quakertown. In much the same way he chose to stay close to his home when beginning his career so that he could attend to his family with love and precision, he committed to the place and people of Bucks County through his professional contributions. He took the time to learn and to love the stories of his clients, and to welcome them into his life in a vibrant way. He followed up. He made house visits. He dedicated the full weight of his considerable intellect, humor and creativity to pursuing the best outcomes he could for people who were often experiencing the worst situations of their lives. He truly loved the theater of the courtroom, and he also loved the community of the court. He believed in "doing justice" and he understood that to include the interactions he had with clients, judges, attorneys and all the staff of the courts. He also understood it to include his own commitment to bring all his talent to bear in the preparation and presentation of a case. His love for his clients and for his life's work was evident to all who witnessed any part of this process. His work changed lives for the better. John was blessed with a commitment to learning and a creative energy that expressed itself in a number of ways. Early in his marriage, despite a lack of formal training, John taught himself woodworking. Starting with small, wooden boxes, he filled the new home he shared with Joyce, moving from bookshelves to hutches to beds to cradles. Next came photography. With the arrival of his daughters, he started taking family photos. Before long he was documenting the world around him, first using film then digital cameras to capture the people and places he saw. Whether it was heading into the office or driving across the country, he was never without a camera and would regularly spend nights and weekends editing his work. John was creative and he appreciated the creativity of others. He particularly loved music and the actions of his life were enhanced with the soundtrack he chose. His family remembers him selecting just the right song to play to help his daughters feel empowered to take on a challenging exam; the perfect tune to get his family dancing after Thanksgiving dinner; and a fitting score for a drive with the top down to look at the river on a summer night. John was characterized by his commitment, loyalty and passion to the things and people he loved the most. Outside of his family and close friends, his other great loves were cars and pets, both of which started during his childhood in Pittsburgh. Starting with his first pet beagle, nearly his entire life included a beagle by his side. With a father who was a master mechanic and a mother who loved to drive fast, his devotion to cars was inevitable. He loved Formula One racing and sports cars, particularly Porsches, a love which started when he purchased his first one in Kansas in the late 1960s. Some of his favorite moments were taking long drives, getting lost and finding a new spot to explore with whoever was lucky enough to be his passenger. Family and friends are invited to commemorate John's life on December 1, 2018 at Naugle's Funeral Home in Quakertown, PA. The family will be receiving visitors from 11-1pm, with a memorial celebration starting at 1pm. Family and friends are invited to a gathering in the Palace Banquet Room at the Proper Brewing Co., 117 W. Broad St., Quakertown immediately following the service. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations be made in John's name to the Bucks County SPCA (www.bcspca.org), Why Not Me Inc. (www.whynotmeinc.org), or Big Brothers Big Sisters of Bucks County (www.bbbsbc.org). Family and friends are invited to a gathering in the Palace Banquet Room at the Proper Brewing Co., 117 W. Broad St., Quakertown . Attachments area