Arlington Hts. dentist 'classy in every regard'
For nearly 30 years, Dr. John A. "Jack" Heinz practiced general dentistry in Arlington Heights, building a clientele that grew right along with the bustling suburb.
Family members said Dr. Heinz followed an older brother out to the Northwest suburbs from Chicago, where they had grown up in a family of 12 children and where Dr. Heinz started his practice.
His brother, Robert, was one of the developers of the Westgate subdivision in the south-central portion of Arlington Heights and his brother bought one of the first homes there.
Together they were among the early members of Our Lady of the Wayside Catholic Church. As a result, its parishioners helped establish Dr. Heinz's family dental practice.
Dr. Heinz, a former Arlington Heights resident, most recently of Boca Raton, Fla., died Saturday. He was 87.
When Dr. Heinz graduated from Loyola University Dental School in 1943, he immediately was called to serve as a dentist in the Navy during World War II. Upon his return, he opened his first dental practice above the Tiffin Theater on North Avenue in Chicago.
When the Korean War broke out, the Navy called again and once again he had to interrupt his practice.
"He had to maintain his Chicago practice," his oldest son, Jack, of Arlington Heights said. "By then, he already had children."
By the late 1950s, Dr. Heinz and his wife, Geraldine, moved to Arlington Heights, with their growing family, which eventually would include seven children.
He opened a small office next to Chin's Chinese Restaurant in downtown Arlington Heights, but had to move in 1969 when the restaurant owners wanted to expand.
That same year, Dr. Heinz bought a building on Central Road in Arlington Heights, where he remained until 1983. During those years, another dentist, Dr. Howard Nelson, rented office space in the same building.
"He was a true family man, who was loved and appreciated by his patients," Nelson said.
Dr. Gary Todd purchased the practice from Dr. Heinz when he retired and he described the transition as seamless.
"I had the great good fortune to purchase the practice, when it was one of the pre-eminent practices in Arlington Heights," Todd said. "He was quite a gentleman, classy in every regard. They just don't make them like that anymore."
Dr. Heinz is survived by his wife of 65 years, Geraldine; and children, John Jr. (Patricia); Janice (Thomas) Radley; Frank J. (Susan) Heinz; Mark (Lisa) Heinz; Geri Ann (Todd) Heinz Nick; and Susan (Jim) Ronayne as well as 17 grandchildren and four great grandchildren.
Visitation will begin at 9:45 a.m. Friday at Oehler Funeral Home, 2099 Miner St. in Des Plaines, before an 11:30 a.m. funeral Mass, also on Friday at St. Norbert Church, 1809 Walters in Northbrook.