Daniel Van Heeckeren

DANIEL W. van HEECKEREN age 83, beloved husband of the late Doris M. (nee Stenberg); loving father of Anna M. (Edward B. Baker) van Heeckeren, Willem J. (Danielle) van Heeckeren, R. Christiaan van Heeckeren, Ingrid W. van Heeckeren; devoted grandfather of Maria van Heeckeren, Elinor van Heeckeren, Max Hannibal, Marta Baker, Elise Baker, Tad Hannibal, Sophia van Heeckeren, Daniel van Heeckeren; cherished son of Willem J. van Heeckeren and Johanna M. van Heeckeren (nee Boon); dearest brother of Jacob van Heeckeren, Walraven van Heeckeren, Steven (Linda) van Heeckeren, Lucie van Heeckeren, Lily van Heeckeren and the late Gesina C. Carter; dear uncle and great-uncle of many. As descendants of an old Dutch noble family, Daniel’s parents and his siblings held the title of baron or baroness, depending on their gender, Dutch customs, and citizenship. Daniel became a US citizen in 1970, and by US law was no longer able to use the title of baron.

Daniel was born in Nootdorp, The Netherlands on December 1, 1936 and died in Shaker Heights, Ohio on June 9, 2020. He attended Colby College where he received his BA in physics, Harvard Medical School where he earned his MD, Yale-New Haven Hospital where he was a Resident and then Chief Resident of Surgery, and Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden as a Fellow in Cardiothoracic Surgery. Daniel worked for University Hospitals of Cleveland, Cleveland Metro General Hospital, Lutheran Hospital, St. John Medical Center, and Firelands Regional Medical Center as a Cardiothoracic Surgeon, at Case Western Reserve University as an Assistant Professor, and at Wade Park Veterans Administration Hospital as a Senior Physician. He received his licensure as a Medical Doctor in Connecticut and Ohio, a Diplomat with the American Board of Surgery, and a Fellow at both the American College of Surgeons and the American College of Cardiology. His lifetime certifications included General Surgery, Pediatric Surgery, Thoracic Surgery, Cardiac Surgery, and Pediatric Cardiac Surgery. Daniel served as a Second Lieutenant in the Royal Netherland’s Army. He was a member of various organizations over the years: American Medical Association, Society for Thoracic Surgeons, American College of Cardiology, American Heart Association, Scientific Council of the Northeast Ohio Affiliate of the American Heart Association, Ohio State Medical Association, Cleveland Surgical Society, Cleveland Chest Association, The Academy of Medicine of Cleveland and Northern Ohio (fka Cleveland Academy of Medicine), Case Western Reserve University, Emeritus, Interlake Yachting Association (I-LYA), US Sailing, United States Yacht Racing Union, North American Yacht Racing Union, Mentor Harbor Yachting Club, Edgewater Yacht Club, Swedish Cultural Society, Holsteiner Verband North American Breeding District (fka American Holsteiner Association). He enjoyed leadership positions related to surgery and medicine (President of the Cleveland Academy of Medicine, Ohio State Medical Association Delegate for the American Medical Association), sailboat racing, leadership positions related to sailing (I-LYA Commodore, US Sailing Judge), skiing, hosting events at his home for his family (Thanksgiving, St. Nick, Christmas Eve, Easter, and reunions), the Swedish Cultural Society (Lucia and Midsommar), family friends (New Year’s Eve), and medical students, he tried horseback riding (while wooing his wife and when she started Barlham Farm), and held a leadership position related to horses (President of the American Holsteiner Horse Association).  Dr. van Heeckeren also volunteered as a physician in Haiti to help the underserved population get access to medical care, and he was a philanthropist who will be missed by many.

In lieu of flowers, please direct donations to his charities of choice: InMotion, to help people living with Parkinson’s disease; Edgewater Youth Sailing Foundation to share his love of sailing with young people; and One Health Organization to help low-income pet owners access veterinary care (the nonprofit his daughter Anna founded and his wife Doris adored).

Private services. Arrangements by THE DeJOHN-FLYNN-MYLOTT FUNERAL HOME OF Willoughby Hills.