The Rev. Alan Heet had a gruff exterior and a marshmallow heart.

        The longtime athletic director at Roger Bacon High School may have grumbled about the kids from the nearby projects hanging around the school's stadium, but “to see him in action with them, you'd have thought he was Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny rolled up in one,” said Brother Gene Mayer, Father Heet's successor.

        Father Heet, 83, died Feb. 6 at St. Margaret Hall in Evanston.

        He was athletic director at Roger Bacon for 33 of the 37 years he taught religion there. But he did much more for the students.

        “Nothing was too menial in his service,” said Brother Mayer, “whether it be washing uniforms, or mowing the stadium and practice fields, or cleaning the gym.”

        And when the neighborhood children came around, they could count on attention from Father Heet.

        “These little kids would come down and basically pester him,” said the Rev. Jim Bok, former Roger Bacon principal. “He'd be riding them around on the tractor. He was very good to them.”

        Said Brother Mayer, who took over as athletic director in 1983, “Those were giant shoes to fill, indeed.”

        Father Heet was born in Hamilton and attended high school at St. Francis Seminary before entering the novitiate at St. Anthony Friary in Mount Airy in 1938.

        After professing his simple vows a year later, he entered Duns Scotus College in Southfield, Mich.

        He professed his solemn vows in 1941, then studied theology at Holy Family Theologate in Oldenburg, Ind. He was ordained there by Bishop Joseph Ritter of Indianapolis in 1946.

        Roger Bacon was his first assignment. Although he hated to leave, Father Heet accepted an assignment to become associate pastor of St. Joseph parish in Louisville in 1983.

        He was there for 14 years before going to St. Mary Friary in Metamora, Ill., to serve as sacramental minister for Central Illinois parishes. He retired a year later.

        Father Heet returned to St. Clement Friary in St. Bernard, where he had lived while at Roger Bacon. He did gardening and yard work there until moving to St. Margaret Hall last year.

        Survivors include: two sisters, Betty Brickner and Elma Truster, both of Hamilton; and three brothers, Bernard, R.J. William and George, all of Hamilton.

        Services have been held. Burial was at St. Mary Cemetery in St. Bernard. Memorials: Roger Bacon High School Athletic Department, 4320 Vine St., St. Bernard 45217.

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