Edward Heitzman

Description

By Mary Stadnyk News Editor In her works, literary abstractionist Gertrude Stein once wrote "Rose is a rose is a rose is a rose." But for Ed and Henrietta Heitzman, the adage would have to be revised to: "Rose is a rose is a rose is a rose is a rose is a rose is a rose is a rose is a rose is a rose is a rose is a rose." Count them up and that's what they have - a dozen roses. Their 12 children have graduated from Notre Dame High School, Lawrenceville, over the past 19 years. Every year at the Baccalaureate Mass at Notre Dame High School, it has been traditional for the graduates to present their parents with a silk rose. The final rose to complete the Heitzman dozen was given to them at the June 13 Baccalaureate Mass by David, their 12th and youngest child. "It's the kind of thing where having that many children and going that many years, you think it will always be that way," said Mrs. Heitzman. While it's "sad" knowing David will be the last child to graduate from Notre Dame, "I'm excited at how well he's doing and how proud we are of him as we are of all of our kids." And with good reason do the Heitzmans have a right to be proud. For starters, David was salutatorian for his class at commencement exercises June 14. His accomplishments leading up to that distinction included earning many scholastic honors, awards and scholarships. David was named a National Merit Commended Scholar and was recently named Highest Varsity Scorer in the Catholic School Math League for New York and New Jersey. He also represented the league in the New York State Mathematics League Tournament and was named Most Valuable Team Member in the event. He was also named a double Trenton Times Academic All-Star performer in Math and Science. Mrs. Heitzman said she and her husband are both products of Catholic education and they never had any doubt their children were going to get a Catholic education. Putting 12 children through Catholic schools, however, wasn't always easy, Mrs. Heitzman said, noting that up until three years ago she had stayed at home to raise her family. "Sometimes we didn't think we were going to manage, but we always seemed to have the money for tuition. I think the Lord helps you out... I know the Lord helps you out," she said, adding that her husband is an automotive engineer with an office and lab set up in their home. "We found it easier to raise the children" by sending them to Catholic schools because the schools offered the same values and demanded the discipline and respect that "we expected from them at home." The Heitzman clan attended St. Paul's School, Princeton. At Notre Dame all 12 were in the top 10 percent of their graduating classes. Seven, including David, had been ranked among the top ten students academically. It was understood that their childrens' education would not stop after high school, Mrs. Heitzman said. "We encouraged our kids to go on to college" and each chose his or her own occupation, she said. Two are currently in college; nine have graduated from college; two hold master's degrees, and two are enrolled in doctoral programs.

Products & services

Similar companies nearby