Joseph William Heim

January 28, 1944 - August 7, 2013

Joe Heim passed peacefully in his sleep after a busy day of work on his beloved East Hill Tree Farm in Cherry Valley, NY. He, with the love of his life Barbara Miller, was building memories here and in New Jersey.

Son of Mary Eileen Heim and Joseph Heim (who died during World War II), then stepson of Daniel F. Noonan, Joe was born in Brooklyn, NY. He spent his early years in River Edge, NJ, attended Don Bosco High School, and then Michigan State University, where he studied forestry. Joe went on to receive an MBA from NYU. Forestry served him well as he developed his tree farm; a passion that brought him great joy as he harvested the mature trees he helped plant as a young man.

His career path was diverse and began with a goal of fire jumping for the forest service. Over time, however, his MBA opened corporate doors and he accepted a position with Smith Corona. Soon he would begin a long run in the automotive industry, as manager, executive and owner in  companies that included Ford, Lincoln Mercury, Renault, Jaguar, and Mercedes Benz. His final professional role was with ADT's home security business. Joe had extraordinary passion for all things mechanical and applied his vast mechanical and business skills with exuberance and excellence.  He was surely born with a wrench in his back pocket.  His organizational discipline complimented every aspect of his being, from work to play. He viewed everything with a skilled eye and always seemed to know how things worked. He was a voracious reader and student of the world and could never consume enough knowledge.

Joe loved to compete, whether in the workplace, or on the basketball, tennis or beach paddle tennis courts. From our earliest memory, that glint in his eye and sly in his smile bespoke his humor, but a more serious man you could not find. It was apparent in how he competed with himself as well as others. A life-long romance with the road, Joe was a prolific traveler. Those who knew him would eagerly anticipate a wealth of stories upon his return. Whether on two wheels, four wheels, land, sea or air, his joy was the journey, not the destination.

Amongst the many credos Joe embraced was the maxim to look at life through the windshield rather than the rear-view mirror.

He was an over the top, larger than life, man who always encouraged others by saying, "You have earned the right to expect a positive outcome."  

Joe often referred to "An Old Farmer's Advice", which included the adage, "Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God."

Joe was passionate about people, places and things. He is survived by his sons, Matthew and Jay Heim; three sisters, Pamela Noonan of Cherry Valley, NY, Gail St. Pierre of Cincinnati, Ohio, and Barbara McCoy of Orlando, Florida; and three brothers, Guy Noonan of Saint Augustine, Florida, Greg Noonan of Cherry Valley, NY, and Dan Noonan of Campbell Hall, NY. The extended relations include William Suchoski (deceased), Joe St. Pierre (deceased), Les McCoy, Joan Noonan and Kristina Noonan. Nieces and nephews canvas a broad geography, and include Heather (St. Pierre) and Syara Kahn, Eileen (St. Pierre) Franer, Christopher St. Pierre, Lauren McCoy and Caitlin, Connor and Sean Noonan.

A private celebration of his life will be held at East Hill Farm in the near future.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to Catskill Area Hospice and Palliative Care, 1 Birchwood Drive, Oneonta, NY 13820 and/or The Daily Bread Food Pantry, P. O. Box 103, Cherry Valley, NY 13320.

The family is being assisted by the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home, 82 Chestnut Street, Cooperstown, NY.


If you would like to send condolences to the family, send an email to Connell, Dow & Deysenroth. We will forward your comments to the family. If you would like to send flowers in memory of the deceased, contact Mohican Flowers, or call them at (607) 547-8822.