At the West Haven Community House’s recent board of directors meeting, the 2018-19 slate of new board officers and members was announced. Ken Prisco, outgoing president, welcomed incoming president, Bill Heffernan, III; first vice president, Katie Heffernan-Farrell, second vice president John F. Onofrio; treasurer, James Turcio, secretary Jay Brennan, and assistant secretary, Gene Sullivan. Also, four new board members were inducted including Elizabeth Johnston, John Lewis; Edward O’Brien, former West Haven Mayor; and Pamela O’Neill.
Prior to the start of his board service in 2010, Incoming Board President Bill Heffernan was no stranger to the Community House as he was instrumental in serving on the agency’s annual Golf Committee from 1999 to 2012, and was the recipient of the Community House’s Certificate of Appreciation in 2001 and 2004 and the Pauline Lang Award in 2014.
“In all the years that Bill has been involved with the Community House, he has never once said no to anything asked of him,” said Community House Executive Director, Patty Stevens. “Bill has been an integral part of a variety of Community House’s board committees including our Executive Committee, Buildings & Grounds, Nominating, and Fund Development committees. In addition, Bill played a pivitol role in the planning and execution of our annual fundraising events, and especially, our 75th Anniversary events in 2016,” Stevens continued, “..we look forward to his leadership in the next fiscal year.”
Heffernan is the son of schoolteachers Evelyn and the late William Heffernan, Jr., of West Haven. He has three siblings: a sister Katie Farrell, a social worker and incoming first Vice-President of the board at the West Haven Community House; a brother, Daniel, an attorney; and another sister Nancy, also a school teacher. He and his wife Anne Marie have two children, Anita and William Heffernan IV. Heffernan, has deep roots in the city of West Haven and is well known throughout the community, especially for his 25-years of service with the West Haven Fire Department, currently holding the rank of Lieutenant.
During his career he has been the recipient of two unit Citations, was awarded the Distinguished Service Award and the Medal of Meritorious Service, and he is a proud member of West Haven Professional Firefighters Local 1198.
In addition, he has been a member of the West Haven Elks Lodge 1537 for over 30 years, the West Haven Historical Society, and a member of the Village Improvement Association, which is the Board of Directors for the West Haven Public Library. He also realized a life-long dream of spending a month in Nepal hiking Mount Everest making it to the base camp in the Fall of 2017.