Lance J. Heidig

Lance J. Heidig

Lance J. Heidig of Ithaca, NY, died unexpectedly at home on Tuesday morning, April 6, 2021. The cause was cardiac arrest. Born on August 18, 1956, Lance was the son of Ronald R. Heidig (1933-2013) and Susan (Cramer) Heidig. Lance was born and grew up in Waverly, NY, the oldest of three siblings, with his sisters Pam and Doris.

He was a proud graduate of Waverly High School’s class of 1974 where he was the consummate Renaissance man. He excelled at his studies and, although he was president of the Science Club, he especially loved literature, poetry, music, and art. He was also an athlete—an accomplished member of Waverly’s wrestling, track and cross-country teams. Friends describe him as gregarious, yet thoughtful towards others, radiating with curiosity. He maintained many close friendships from his Waverly days and never wanted to miss a high school reunion. Loved by his classmates and teachers alike, he won citations and scholarships that helped him on his way to college at Oregon State University, including the Floyd J. Beers Scholarship of the Waverly Rotary Club.

Lance was an English major at Oregon State. He gloried in his college classes and experiences, joining the crew team in his freshman year and making many more friends. He was especially inspired by his art professor, sculptor Mark Sponenburgh (1918-2012), with whom he maintained a lifelong friendship.

Following his love of literature, Lance entered the University of Vermont to pursue a graduate degree in English. Time spent in a study program at Oxford University during the summer of 1981 was especially memorable, and he loved to tell stories about his hikes through England’s Lake District. By 1982, however, Lance had decided that his true path was academic librarianship. He received his MLS degree in 1984 from Columbia University’s School of Library Service and was soon hired by Cornell University, starting his first job in Cornell’s Uris Library on November 26, 1984. He was thrilled that his first full-time job as a professional librarian brought him to Cornell—located less than 40 miles away from his home town of Waverly, NY.

While Lance had many reference and teaching roles over the years in Cornell’s Uris and Olin Libraries, his appointment to Cornell’s Rare and Manuscript Division in 2010 allowed him to fully utilize his passions for literature, history, art, and storytelling. Although he loved books and research, he loved teaching and helping people even more. His joy in sharing the Library’s rare books and archives, such as E.B. White’s manuscript of Charlotte’s Web, or Cornell’s copy of the Gettysburg Address in Lincoln’s handwriting, could light up a room. He reached thousands of students in his 37 years in Cornell’s Library.

Lance met the love of his life, fellow Cornell librarian Katherine Reagan, in 1996. They built a life in Ithaca and shared 25 years together, enriched by close family and friends and a wide network of colleagues in the rare book and archival worlds. They also enjoyed many travels, especially to Katherine’s hometown outside of San Francisco, CA, and Lance’s favorite cities of Portland, OR, Seattle, WA, and Denver, CO. Lance’s relationship with literature was not passive. He used his readings to spur his travels and his travels to inform his reading and understanding of the world, and integrated those experiences into the classroom.

Lance was first and foremost a loving partner, brother, son, uncle, and friend. A dedicated writer of postcards, letters, emails and texts, he poured energy into his relationships. In the wake of Lance’s death, hundreds wrote to express sorrow and share treasured memories. Featured often in their remarks are mentions of Lance’s uplifting spirit, his enthusiasm for connecting with people, and his readiness to lend a hand. Several have said he was the most genuine and decent person they ever met. He was kind, cheerful, and always ready to talk, or as one friend described him: “exuberant, ebullient, and boiling with cheer.” His impact was wide and his loss is deeply felt.

Lance is survived by his partner, Katherine Reagan, of Ithaca, NY; his mother, Susan Heidig, of Waverly, NY; his sister Pam Leonard (Tim), niece Hilary, and nephews John and Thomas Leonard of Seattle, WA; in-laws Susan Mott of Walnut Creek, CA, and Ron Reagan of Cornelius, OR; and cousins Keith, David, Steven Burlingame, Shelly Harrison, Jan, Chris, Todd Hunsinger, Heidi Johnson, and Jeff, Mike, Stacy, and Eric Heidig. His father, Ronald Heidig, and sister, Doris Heidig, predeceased him. While there will be no formal funeral services, the family plans a celebration of Lance’s life this summer. Lance will eventually be interred at Glenwood Cemetery in Waverly, NY. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Finger Lakes Land Trust https://www.fllt.org/