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Obituary corner: Michael Heenan, a poet from Ottawa

Heenan Footsteps Posted on by
Published in The Ottawa Citizen on May 10, 2014

Peacefully on Feb. 9, 2014 at the age of 71 in Ottawa.

Image captured from Linked In profile

Born Joseph Michael (Mike) Howard Heenan on Sept. 28, 1942, he lived all his life in Ottawa and MacLaren’s Landing. He was predeceased by his parents, Capt. Joseph Alfred Heenan, OBE, and Sarah Glynne Howard. He is survived by his older sister, Rosemary Gosselin (Roland), nieces Margot and Daphne Rochester, and grand-nieces and nephews, Ashley, Brooke, Cody, Christopher, Turner and Reid. Also by cousins Ian Rutherford and Janet White.

A graduate of Carleton University (BA and BJ) with a Master’s from the University of Ottawa, Michael was a longtime English teacher, the one-time editor of the Carp Valley Press and a life-long poet and admirer of the written word, especially the works of W.B. Yeats.

A committal of his ashes will be held Saturday, May 17, at 1 p.m. at Poet’s Hill at Beechwood Cemetery. All are invited. There will be traditional music and a recitation of his poetry. Donations may be made in Michael’s name to the Beechwood Cemetery Foundation, Poet’s Hill Fund.

Additional information about Mike Heenan
In a article published in the Ottawa Citizen in May 2014, a friend described Michael (known as Mike) as a man who was active in the city’s literary, musical and historical life. He had been a mentor to many young writers and had been a founding member of a group that fought for a monument to the many nameless Irish who died building the Rideau Canal.  “Funny, smart, literate,” is how another friend described him. 

Michael Heenan was born in Montreal in 1942 but settled in Ottawa at an early age. 

His father Joseph Alfred Heenan was born in Newcastle on Tyne, England. He joined the British merchant navy as a young boy, rapidly rising through the ranks. He saw active service in both world wars and was also captain of many passenger liners operated by the White Star Line. 

He is part of family group 165. To learn more about this family click on this link

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