Ret. Police Chief William G. Hegarty's Obituary
Ret. Police Chief William G Hegarty
1939-2020
The heavens opened to welcome a hero.
At 4:12 AM, July 4, 2020, William George Hegarty, age 81, earned independence from this earthly life, after a recent fall. He was born June 18, 1939, in Rochester, New York.
He was the first generation in America of hard working and strong Irish immigrants. Leaving a heritage of potato farming in Ireland, George, his father, came to America as a young teenager to work and send money back to his family in Ireland. His mother, Sarah (Shannon), also left Ireland in her early teens, to find relief from religious persecution. In Rochester, they started a family with William (“Bill”, also known as “George” in his earlier years), born first, followed by his brother Richard, who passed away at 2 weeks old, Rena, and Frances. Bill was very proud of his Irish heritage, and we have no doubt that after he passed, he was welcomed with loving, opened arms by his parents for a wonderful reunion, with his father saying, “Well done, my lad.”
Family brought comfort and strength to Bill, throughout his life. He had many great titles, but those from his family were among his most treasured. He is survived by his wife, Terri; two daughters, Christine (James) Crandall, of Orem, UT, and Jane (Brian) McConnell, of Salem, UT; two stepsons, Andrew (Andrew King) Jester, of Grand Rapids, MI, and Adam (Elizabeth) Jester, of Jenison, MI. He was also the proud and grateful “Papa” and “Grandpa Bill" to six beautiful grandchildren and one great-granddaughter, all of whom he completely adored: Brendon (Ashley) McConnell, Connor Crandall, Jason McConnell, Ellie Crandall, Jonah Jester, Rachel Jester, and Millie McConnell. His family will always be thankful for their special times with their Papa/Grandpa of walking on beaches and along Chinook Pier, playing lawn games and ping pong, “no rules” basketball games, the frog pond, and of course, hearing the priceless stories from his life. Bill is also survived by his dear friends, Ed and Peggy (Margaret) Jeffrey.
Many of the stories that Bill told his family came from his honorable work as a police officer and police chief. At a young age, Bill knew he wanted to make a difference in the world and be a force for good that would help others. After a challenging childhood, but one for which he was thankful, he graduated from high school with almost the lowest grades of his graduating class. He chose to serve his country and honorably served in the United States Air Force for several years, in Texas and Japan. He was always thankful for the experience, in that it helped him mature and find his focus in life. After the military, with strong determination and resolve, Bill pursued his academic goals. From the kid who graduated at the bottom of his class in high school, he moved on and graduated with honors from Michigan State University in law enforcement, additionally receiving a Masters of Science Degree from MSU and eventually became an Assistant Professor there.
When Bill became a rookie police officer he told his supervisors that he wanted to “go to the most challenging area for police work in the country”. At the time, that was Oakland, California. He served in police departments in California, New York (New Rochelle, Police Commissioner), and Michigan (Jackson and Grand Rapids). At the age of 32, Bill was one of the youngest police chiefs in the country, and he served as a Chief of Police in New Rochelle and Grand Rapids, for more than 25 years. During this time, he also became a graduate of the National Executive Institute of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He was a consultant to schools, law enforcement and communities about “How to Prevent and Respond to Violent Incidents in Schools” and was the author of the book Our Very Smart, Violent Children. Chief Hegarty was appointed the Chairman of the Michigan Committee on Juvenile Justice by former Governor John Engler. He was a life member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police and the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police.
During his police management career, he received many national, state, and local awards for his accomplishments. In 1996, for example, the International Association of Chiefs of Police presented the “highest and most respected award in the United States and the international police community” - the Webber Seavey Award - to the Chief and the Grand Rapids Police Department for “Quality Law Enforcement”, and the Michigan Bar Association presented the “Liberty Bell” award to Chief Hegarty, which is one of the highest awards in the State of Michigan for “community service”. He was the police chief of the City of Grand Rapids for 16 years before his retirement in 1998.
Hard work and determination were among his greatest attributes. He was also driven by compassion and the need to help and protect others - especially the weakest and youngest among us. To Chief Hegarty, his most meaningful professional accomplishment was the development of the Children’s Advocacy Center of Kent County. Bill would be quick to correct someone if they said he was the “founder”. In the words of Chief Hegarty, “I wasn’t the founder. It was the girl in the yellow dress. I was her messenger, and all of you still are.”
It has been said that Bill was a kind, but no-nonsense person who brought people together in some of the best and worst of times.
The world is a better place because William George Hegarty was placed on this earth. He will be deeply missed, and his legacy will live on in lives and communities everywhere.
Due to Covid-19 there will be a private service with military and police honors. Interment will take place in Rosedale Memorial Cemetery.
For a lasting memorial in memory of Chief Hegarty please consider donating to: The Children’s Advocacy Center of Kent County, Thin Blue Line Foundation, or The Hegarty Criminal Justice Scholarship – Grand Valley State University.
Please sign the family’s online guestbook at http://www.sytsemafh.com.
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