- By Lansing Funeral Home
- Obituaries
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Born in Caroline, NY, on September 1, 1927, he was a son of the late Berkley and Jessie Edith (Mix) Heffron. DeForest was a graduate of Candor Central School and received his Bachelors Degree from Buffalo State and his Masters from Bowdin College. He proudly served his country in the US Air Force and US Marines.
DeForest worked at IBM in Poughkeepsie, then moved to Ithaca and taught for many years at Ithaca High School and the Alternative School. He was a past president of the Ithaca Teachers Association, retiring in 1983. After retirement Dee lived in Southern Africa, Maun, Botswana for 19 years including 8 years with the Peace Corps where he taught Advanced Math at Maun Senior Secondary School and Delta Waters Int. School. He then founded the Nthoo Typing School for under-privileged young women which taught them skills to obtain better jobs.
In addition to his parents, DeForest was preceded in death by his brothers; Ivan & Erwin Heffron, and his grandson, Michael Heffron.
He is survived by his loving wife, Jane Mabe Heffron; his children, Lucas, Lydia, Queen, Julie Sorrell, Theresa (Robert) Berggren, and Eugene; siblings, Ellen Heffron of Stockton, CA, Elnora Teeter of Ithaca, Inez (William) Toth of Melbourne, FL, Leo (Barbara) Heffron of Lyman, SC, Lura (John) Arcangeli of Enfield and Duane Fish of Freeville. He is also survived by his long-time & dear friend, Bill Halton of Danby, NY.
DeForest was also the proud grandfather of 11 surviving grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.
Family will be present to receive friends at Lansing United Methodist Church, 32 Brickyard Rd., Lansing, NY, on Thursday, March 11, from 6 -7pm, followed by a funeral service, officiated by Pastor William Gottschalk-Fielding and Pastor Glenn Kennedy, at 7pm. The family is being assisted by Lansing Funeral Home.