One of the more colorful characters in Boardman Township history, Jefferson ‘Bear’ Heaver, 73, died Fri., Oct. 7, of a heart attack. At the time of his sudden death, he was helping an elderly person at Marcs get merchandise off a display shelf.
      Bear was a 1967 graduate of Boardman High School, growing up on Tanglewood Dr., a son of the late Dr. and Mrs. Robert Heaver.
      He leaves his wife of eleven years, Sharon Moran. He had a brother, Bob (Trush), of Georgia; and three sisters, Cathy (Dan) Hunt, and Laurie Heaver, of Florida; and Nancy Heaver, of Columbus, Oh.
      At Boardman High School, Bear was a standout member of the Spartans football team, where he served as a co-captain and earned first-team All Steel Valley Conference laurels as a senior. He was also a three-year letterman with the Spartans wrestling team.
      After attending Heidelberg College, he was employed for two years with the Boardman Township Road Department.
      In 1973, he joined the Boardman Police Department, where he was a member of Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #43, serving a term as president. He retired on Dec, 2, 2002, as Chief of the Detective Division.
      “He was particularly adept and remembering dates, times and names,” his former Police Chief Glenn Bowers once said.
      Heaver’s term of service at the Boardman Police Department was recognized many times for his professionalism.
      When promoted to the rank of detective in 1981, Chief James McBride said that Heaver “served with great devotion to duty and has displayed good investigative ability. He has shown soundness of decision, promptness of action, and application of good investigative procedures.”
      In May, 1991, Chief Bowers commended Officer Heaver for his work in an investigation into a hit-skip accident that killed a 13-year-oldboy on Glenwood Ave.
      “The police department received an anonymous tip that an individual made a statement in a bar in Austintown about striking a youth. Your experience and expertise as an investigator, along with your diligence led to the arrest and conviction of the individual who was responsile,” Chief Bowers said of Heaver’s efforts.
      As a member of the FOP, he was known for his ability to negotiate contracts for members of his union, without petty squabbles.
      While a member of the police department, the Bear decided to take up the sport of golf, first learning the game at Tippecanoe Country Club.
      In retirement, he golfed all the time. He had a reputation as an excellent putter, especially from distance. In his later years, any putt he had from 4-ft. or closer, was a ‘gimme!’
      He was a member and past president of the Sigma Club, a member and treasurer of the Sigma-60 Investment Club, and a member of the board of the Springfield Ridge Association.
      He and his outgoing, sometimes gruff character will be sadly missed by all those who knew him.
      The Bear could spin a yarn better than most, and often would tell his tales with unmatched repetition.
      He loved the community, and the police department that he served.
      Calling hours are set for Mon., Oct. 24, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with a memorial service to follow at the Rossi-Santucci Funeral Home.
      Shortly before his death, the Bear sent the following to his friends---
      THE LAST QUARTER
      Most of us, not all, are now in the last quarter of our life and should read this interesting piece of advice. This is one of the nicest and most gentle articles I’ve read in a while: no politics, no religion and no racial issues - just food for thought.
      You know …… time has a way of moving quickly and catching you unaware of the passing years.
      It seems just yesterday that I was young and embarking on my new life. Yet in a way, it seems like eons ago, and I wonder where all the years went.
      I know that I lived them all.
      I have glimpses of how it was back then and of all my hopes and dreams.
      However, here it is …… the last quarter of my life and it catches me by surprise.
      How did I get here so fast? Where did the years go and where did my youth go?
      I remember well seeing older people through the years and thinking that those older people were years away from me and that I was only on the first quarter and that the fourth quarter was so far off that I could not visualize it or imagine fully what it would be like.
      Yet, here it is …… my friends are retired and getting grey - they move slower and I see an older person now. Some are in better and some worse shape than me but I see the great change.
      They’re not like the ones that I remember who were young and vibrant …… but like me, their age is beginning to show and we are now those older folks that we used to see and never thought we’d become.
      Each day now, I find that just getting a shower is a real target for the day and taking a nap is not a treat anymore. It’s mandatory because if I don’t of my own free will, I fall asleep where I sit.
      And so, now I enter into this new season of my life unprepared for all the aches and pains and the loss of strength and ability to go and do things that I wish I had done but never did. But at least I know that, though I’m on the last quarter and I’m not sure how long it will last, that when it’s over on this earth, it’s over. A new adventure will begin!
      Yes, I have regrets. There are things I wish I hadn’t done; things I should have done but truly there are many things I’m happy to have been done. It’s all in a lifetime.
      So, if you’re not on the last quarter yet, let me remind you that it will be here faster than you think. So, whatever you would like to accomplish in your life do it quickly.
      Don’t put things off too long. Life goes by so quickly. So, do what you can today, as you can never be sure whether you’re on the last quarter or not.
      You have no promise that you will see all the seasons of life. So, live for today and say all the things that you want your loved ones to remember - and hope that they appreciate and love you for all the things that you have done for them in all the past years.
      ‘Life’ is a gift to you. Be Happy! Have a great day!
      Remember, it is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver.
      You may think:
      Going out is good - but coming home is better! You forget names - but it’s okay because some people forgot they even knew you! You realize you’re never going to be really good at anything like golf - but you like the outdoors!
      The things you used to care to do, you aren’t as interested in anymore - but you really don’t care that you aren’t as interested.
      You sleep better on a lounge chair with the TV on than in bed – you call it ‘pre-sleep’!
      You miss the days when everything worked with just an ‘On’ and ‘Off’ switch!
      You tend to use more four-letter words – ‘what’ and ‘when’
      You have lots of clothes in your wardrobe, more than half of which you will never wear – but just in case!
      So, stay well, ‘Old friend!’ Have a fantastic day! Have an awesome quarter – whichever one you’re in!
      Take care,
      The Bear