Henry Heberling

Henry (Hank) David Heberling was born on December 19, 1946 in Paterson, NJ, the younger of two sons to Othmar (Otto) and Margaret (Peggy) Heberling (nee Hogan). He spent his entire childhood in Paterson, on Sussex Street, first attending grammar school at St. Boniface, then School No. 9, and finally Central High School. He attended Seton Hall University where he received a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education with a focus in Social Studies and English. He later went on to receive his master’s +30.

It was at Seton Hall that Hank met his future wife, Josephine (Jo) Heberling (nee Carrabba). They were set up by mutual college friends, and from day one, Jo knew that Hank was wonderfully different. In the early years of their courtship, he didn’t own a car and would walk 11 miles from South Paterson to where Jo lived on Rossiter Avenue, a trek that took him across Garrett Mountain. They spent so many dates in the living room of Jo’s home that he bought her parents a second TV set for their bedroom where they scurried away to give the young couple privacy.

On Christmas Eve 1969, he proposed by hiding a ring in Jo’s stocking. Several months later, he was sent to Fort Knox in Kentucky as part of the Army Reserves. Hank and Jo married at The Manor in West Orange, NJ on May 16, 1971, and after a honeymoon in Las Vegas, began their life together in their shared hometown of Paterson.

Hank, along with his wife, was a dedicated public school teacher. He spent the majority of his career at Jefferson Township Middle School as a well-liked social studies teacher. He loved teaching and loved children. Hank was the kind of teacher who dressed up as characters from history, which required a high degree of bravery and silliness to pull off in a classroom full of teenagers. His passion for and knowledge of American history and current affairs earned him the title of Dr. Democracy from his colleagues, which is only fitting for a man who gave everyone he cared for nicknames.

Hank and Jo had two children, a son Michael, born in 1976, and a daughter Katherine, born in 1981. When Jo was pregnant with their second, they moved from Paterson to Wayne, NJ, where their home is today. Hank deeply loved his family and while making his living as a teacher, he more often than not worked a second job to make sure his kids had every advantage in life. And despite all of the extra hours at work, he always had time to goof around with his kids and tease his wife.

While Hank could be serious and more than a little stubborn, he was a resolutely silly man with a quirky sense of humor, decorating his areas of the house–the garage, the basement, and the yard–with family memorabilia, incorporating his love into the landscape of his home. Between this and the way he treated all of the pets in his life over the years–from Jo’s mutt Rusty, to his kids’ childhood dog Luke, and finally his retirement buddy, the pup Gracie–it was obvious to all just how much of a softie he was.

While Hank retired from the public school system early at the age of 55, he never stopped teaching. He spent nearly two decades tutoring at Saint Clare’s Health in Boonton, NJ. He admired the Saint Clare’s community and only stopped teaching months before his passing. Hank was also a religious man, a devout Catholic, and a congregant of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Wayne. In recent years, he worshiped at home, watching daily masses on television.

Hank passed away on March 30, 2020 from complications from diabetes. Hank is survived by his wife of 48 years Josephine Heberling, his son Michael Heberling, his daughter Katherine Heberling and his son-in-law Jason Young, his mother-in-law Rose Carrabba, and may other family members. His twinkling blue eyes, wry smile, and sense of humor will be missed by many.

Donations may be made in Hank’s memory to Sansum Diabetes Research Institute: www.sansum.org/ways-to-give/.