James Beyer "Jim" Heneghan

James Beyer "Jim" Heneghan of Metairie, LA passed away at age 88 at his home in Sunrise Assisted Living Center of Metairie on the morning of Tuesday, March 7, 2023. He was born on February 5, 1935, in La Porte, IN, the only child of the late George Phillip Heneghan of Jacksonville, IL and the late Phyllis Marie (Beyer) Heneghan of South Bend, IN.

Jim attended St. Leo High School in South Bend, IN as well as Notre Dame University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in biology and a Ph.D. in gastrointestinal physiology. While at Notre Dame, he met Helen L. Jackowski, and the two married at Sacred Heart Church in South Bend on September 5, 1959. The couple had two sons and celebrated over 52 years of marriage until Helen's passing in 2012.

The family moved to New Orleans, LA, in 1962, after Jim accepted a position as a professor of physiology at Louisiana State University Medical Center in New Orleans, where he remained until his retirement in 2002 after 40 years of service as a teacher and researcher.

Jim enjoyed playing bridge and racquetball, traveling, and doing word search puzzles. A dedicated fan of New Orleans sports and culture, he was a die-hard New Orleans Saints fan as well as a New Orleans Hornets/Pelicans fan, having been a season ticket holder for both teams, and he and Helen were active in the Krewe of Iris for many years. Jim's faith and spirit brought the light and love of God to all who met him, and he cherished his years spent singing with the St. Clement of Rome Church choir. In 2015, Jim became a member of the New Orleans all-male dance group, the 610 Stompers, which brought him immense joy in his twilight years.

Jim is survived by his two sons, James Phillip Heneghan (Jean) of Metairie, LA, and Michael Walter Heneghan of Gretna, LA, as well as his four grandchildren -Â Carolyn, Christopher, and Katherine Heneghan of Metairie, LA; and Colleen (Brian) Enterkin of Carrollton, TX.

Visitation will be held at St. Clement of Rome Catholic Church on Saturday, March 11, 2023, from 9:30am to 11:00am, followed by the rosary at 11:00am. A Funeral Mass will also be celebrated by Fr. Christian Delerno that same Saturday from 11:30am to 12:30pm. All those who knew and loved Jim are welcome to join us at this celebration of Jim's life. The interment will be at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests that donations be made in Jim's name to the Louisiana Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association; please call AA’s 24-7 hotline at 1-800-272-3900 and request your donation be in Jim’s name and to the Louisiana Chapter. Jim's family thanks you all profusely for your prayers, your support, and your love.

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