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Martin MacDaragh Heitzman

Obituary

Martin was born on 3/20/98 in Irving, Texas.  He was a delight from the instant that he was born, smiling with big dimples. As an infant, he loved watching Teletubies and The Wiggles.  He would jump and spin around in his activity chair, usually with food on his face and always smiling when watching these TV programs. Walking was an adventure, as he loved pushing his toys up and down the hallways at breakneck speed. He never met another child that he didn’t want to play with. He would ask complete strangers “Want to play?”.  He had an immediate attraction for dogs, loving Gidget and Floyd who were his pals.  His brother named him “Backy Boo” as he could not pronounce Martin.  His mother has still referred to him in recent years as “Backy Boo” which made him feel loved. We remodeled many of our houses, and Martin would be the first on the scene in the mornings dressed up as a “Workerman” with his tool belt and equipment to assist. 

He attended St. Thomas Aquinas Elementary School in Dallas, where rich friendships  developed that exist to this day.  He played all sports at St. Thomas, doing well in all endeavors.  He attended several schools to complete high school thereafter.  He continued to play sports and was surrounded by a great group of friends. By this time, his devilish sense of humor became evident.  As in infancy, he continued to have a deep love of dogs, including Auggie (the Beast and Couch Master 360), Rosie (Rose Nation), Otto, Copper, Sasha, Sassy, Effie, Daffie, and BuddyLove, most being rescue dogs.  He would get down on his knees, kiss them, and talk to them, and we think they understood him.

Martin loved food and clothing.  He also had a very expensive taste, preferring meals at elegant restaurants, though he did not have a penny. He was absent-minded to the nth degree, repeatedly losing clothing and his driver’s license, leaving the doors open or unlocked and misplacing things. His parents became used to his habits, anticipating these small mistakes with a grin (most of the time).

Martin loved going to Angel Fire, New Mexico to shoot his BB gun and drive the golf cart with his brother, friends and family.  He also loved the beach and traveling.

Martin made people laugh.  He could tell a story, and he had many funny stories to tell regarding his experiences. He was constantly sending funny videos to his family and friends. He was extraordinarily loyal to his friends, had many best friends, and an enormous social network.  Martin loved people, and he was loved by many.

Martin briefly attended Texas Tech University, but school was not for him at that time. He held multiple jobs and was to start a new job last week.  He was hoping to get a bulldog as a pet soon. He had aspirations of having a family one day, in particular as he adored children.

Martin Heitzman passed away on 11/3/2021 at the age of 23 years.  He is survived by his parents, Judie and Daragh and his brother Max, and two dogs (BuddyLove and Daffie).   Their grief is profound, missing their “Backy Boo”.  There are no words to express the sorrow regarding his passing.

He is survived by a large extended family including his grandmother’s – Frances Jackson and Nuala Heitzman. His deceased grandfathers were Martin Heitzman and John Jackson. He has many uncles and aunts: Jennie Turnage (Gary), Joanie Jackson, Jackie Hawn (Scott), Johnny Jackson (Kelly), Mary Sterling (Scott), and Gael Morkel. He also has many cousins: Brendon Sterling, Kimmie Sterling, Caroline Morkel, Catherine Morkel, Stephen Morkel, Kaki Plass, Brandon Ethridge, Hollie Horne, Haley Jackson, Trent Cameron, and Jackson Cameron. His godfather was Matt Fennell and godmother Jennie Turnage. He has many other aunts and uncles, including his Uncle Don who doted on him.

Martin is at peace now with God, his grandfathers, and our dogs.  However, he will always be an important and forever part of his family’s lives.  We love you, Martin.

Funeral Services will be held at St. Thomas Aquinas Church, 6306 Kenwood Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75214 on Monday 11/22/21 at 11 am.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to ALS Association of Texas alstexas.org or Northeast ALS Consortium (NEALS) neals.org

    Mary Sterling
    11 Nov 2021
    9:05am

    Martin called me “Auntie Me”(Mary). He had a beautiful smile and loved simple joys. The wind in his hair with the car top down listening to “Soak up the Sun” (Cheryl Crow song)& wanting to hear it again & again. He has a special special place in our hearts. Martin leaves a mark on us all and is terribly missed. God bless his soul. God bless Daragh, Judie & Max.

    Shema
    12 Nov 2021
    8:33am

    My condolences to the family. Praying for comfort in this time.

    Janey and Ted
    12 Nov 2021
    9:18am

    Our thoughts and prayers are with Martin and your family.

    Wendy Herrera
    12 Nov 2021
    11:34am

    I am truly sorry to hear of the loss of your son Martin. My heart and prayers go out to Dr. Heitzman and the family. May fond memories of Martin bring you comfort during this hard time.

    John Pearson
    12 Nov 2021
    5:19pm

    I wish to express my sincere condolences to the Heitzman family. What a tragic loss. Words cannot express the depth of my sorrow. May God Bless you all.

    Michelle Witcher
    12 Nov 2021
    5:33pm

    Martin was one of my very favorite carpool kids – always sweet, funny, and polite. I’m heartbroken to hear of this loss and send deepest condolences to Judy and his family. I know how dearly loved he was by so many.

    Tom Stephenson
    13 Nov 2021
    8:26am

    My God, what a tremendous salute to a tremendous boy from a tremendous family. Life is just damn harder for some than others, especially when you daily carry a bit of genius in your veins that pump to a massive and carrying heart like Martin’s.
    Certainly he will be much missed but just as certain he is now at immaculate peace

    Liz
    13 Nov 2021
    9:47am

    Sending my condolences to the Heitzman family. Martin was such a kindhearted soul, gone but never forgotten. May he rest in peace. ❤️

    The Gary Young Family
    13 Nov 2021
    12:30pm

    We have such fond memories of Martin’s early years in San Benito Way playing with Ty and Chaney as they manipulated into playing what they liked-dress up, fashion show, Barbie’s and anything involving water. They even painted him a few times followed by all 3 getting in the bath together. Such sweet memories. May God provide extraordinary comfort in the days to come as you miss and mourn dear Martin

    Sally
    14 Nov 2021
    11:50am

    My heart breaks with yours. Love and peace to you.

    Michelle Early
    14 Nov 2021
    10:46pm

    So sorry to hear about your son. May your memories be a comfort to you.

    Reham & Waleed El-Feky
    15 Nov 2021
    11:59am

    Our sincere condolences to the family. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

    Gary Tunell
    15 Nov 2021
    1:08pm

    we have such fond memories of Martin and Max over the past years, and we cannot imagine the grief Daragh and Judie must have over their loss. Martin was such a cheerful and impish young man and he will certainly be missed by all who knew him.
    Gary and LuAnn Tunell

    Mary Preussel
    15 Nov 2021
    4:38pm

    What a sweet boy he was! My deepest sympathy, Daragh, Judie and Max

    June & Alan Martin
    16 Nov 2021
    2:47pm

    Daragh and Judie,

    So very sorry for your loss. It’s hard to comprehend such sadness.

    Prayers for you guys.

    Tanya
    16 Nov 2021
    10:08pm

    May God hold you, help you, and see you through. Praying for you all with my deepest
    condolences.

    Janet Ross
    18 Nov 2021
    8:15pm

    Dr. Heitzman and family, I’m so very sorry to hear of the unexpected and heartbreaking loss of your son, Martin. May he rest in peace and rise in glory, and may you find comfort in your cherished memories.

    Deedee
    19 Nov 2021
    3:09pm

    Prayers and sincere condolences to The Heitzman Family. May God comfort you all during this time.

    JoAnne
    19 Nov 2021
    6:33pm

    Keeping you all in my thoughts and prayers❤️

    Ken Berumen
    20 Nov 2021
    8:43am

    I am so very sorry for your loss of this beautiful soul at such a young age. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.

    Ken, LuAnn & Garrett Tarango
    20 Nov 2021
    11:45am

    Our deepest condolences to you. Sending our love and prayers for peace.

    Lifetime Friend
    21 Nov 2021
    4:00am

    Martin and I grew up together and I have no memories without him. I used to go to his house in Forest Hills when we were young boys and I remember one day it was raining hard. But with Martin, the rain didn’t matter. It made playing football in his front yard more of an adventure. Then we went inside and we watched The Boy in Striped Pajamas, played Pokemon Ruby Red, and I remember he asked his mom for a dozen Jack ‘N the Box tacos (for us to split, but I got full after two so he ate about 10). While watching the Boy in Striped Pajamas and eating Jack N the Box, I could tell Martin’s kindred spirit couldn’t stand the atrocities of World War 2, how young children could be put through such suffering. To say that Martin had a sense of humor or that he was a pleasant person to be around is a gross understatement. In High School, one of the prettiest girls who was a straight-A student surprised me when she said Martin was the only guy at BL she wanted to marry. I asked why, and she said “because I would spend the rest of my life smiling and laughing, what more could I want than that”. This was the magic of Martin: the memories you made with him in 3 hours were more potent and lasting than any other person could give you in 300 years, a remark I made often in recent years. I took a Theology class with Martin and Mr. Hester, which is easily my favorite semester of schooling ever. Mr. Hester allowed Martin’s wit to shine and encouraged his input. Seeing them intereact brought me joy. During our teenage years, he was the one person that I never felt insecure to be myself around. Martin oozed authenticity, and it was contagious. He wanted his friends to be themsleves and would stop them if they tried to be someone else, as a true friend would. The Bible says that you cannot judge someone and love them at the same time, a verse that Martin embodied effortlessly as he never judged and only loved the real you. I always felt a sense of freedom after each interaction. I want to offer my deepest condolences to the Heitzman family and thank them for bringing Martin into the world. Importantly, I want to assure them that the Spirit of Martin lives in EVERY single person he interacted with, even if it was just once. To God, a day is like 1000 years and a 1000 years is like a day. So too with Martin, a single theology class, sleepover, baseball game, lunch period, or spaghetti night at Lakewood Country Club, had a timeless impact on the soul that was unique to him alone. I count myself among the blessed that I got to spend my entire life with him, and can say with certainty that he lives not only in the heavenly realms, but through the many lives on Earth he touched forever. The Spirit of Martin is that of timelessness and is beyond description. It is the very essense of a such a person that sparks an oceanic feeling of eternity in your soul. The more time goes on since I heard of his passing, the less saying Martin is gone feels true. For I know countless souls that he lives through to this day, especially mine. And I can’t thank Martin and his family enough for that

    Samanmalee and Nick
    22 Nov 2021
    8:13am

    We lived 2 houses away on San Fernando way and he was like one of my own sons, in many ways! He loved to eat my spicy food. I still can’t imagine that I will not see your smiling face and not hear your always larger than life stories. Judy, I cry with you! I still remember how you tried cooking Sri Lankan Pork Pork curry to satisfy Martins state buds! Martin you will be missed but never forgotten! Our deepest condolences to your family!

    Rosalie sanchez
    4 Dec 2021
    9:09pm

    Judy, Daragh, and Max,
    We are so sorry to hear the news about Martin. We have such fond memories of Maryin playing soccer with Raymond on the Super Heroes team and at Kid Kountry. You all are in our thoughts and prayers. God Bless.
    Raymond Sanchez Family

    Greg Hutcheson
    9 Dec 2021
    1:35pm

    I cant say how sorry I am for you Daragh , Judith and Max . My ongoing condolences and only time will heal . I can remember when Martin and Max were born . May God now take care of Martin .

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"I can’t say enough about how helpful and professional Dusty Martin, the funeral director at the Aria Cremation location on NW Highway has been. From my initial call, he was kind and informative. My friend died at home while on hospice and she was picked up in about an hour after receiving the call from the hospice nurse. The person who arrived to pick her up was also very professional/respectful and allowed us to take as much time with her as we wished. When I met with Dusty the next day about arrangements, he explained the process and options available without being pushy or trying to “sell” extras. Throughout the process, he kept me informed and, for example, was careful to be certain I understood the cost of the obituary I wanted and offered some options for reducing that cost if I wished. When I stopped by for another reason and started talking about some of the problems I was having with the pictures and media I hoped to use at a memorial lunch I was planning, he not only listened patiently but offered technology advice and let me use his personal media player. I have had experience arranging cremations for four others using two other local companies, and this experience with Dusty at Aria has been by far the best one I have had."
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"My Daddy’s service and our family experience at Aria Northwest Highway was truly blessed. Funeral Director Dustin Martin is the kind of person that you would like to see on a more regular basis – but in his industry – you hope to not see him that often. That being said – THANK YOU DUSTIN for your unending kindness, compassion and friendship through the process. Meeting you and discussing Dallas History, Find A Grave and my Dad’s lifelong contributions to the great City of Dallas was simply wonderful! In memory of my dad James A. Dodd, Sr. – I want to personally thank you and let you know that you made everything better in that moment. Your calling to “Be There” is spot on. Aria has a one in a million guy in you! Bling Blinky of TEXAS Shout Out: God Bless You!!"
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