Paul Heenan

Madison - Paul H. "Paulie" Heenan, of Madison, Wisconsin, age 30, died November 9, 2012. He was born August 29, 1982 in Madison, the son of John H. and Doris J. "Dorie" Heenan. He had recently returned to Madison after living in New York City for eight years.

A graduate of Oregon High School, Paul was well known in the local community as a talented musician and recording engineer. He found a creative outlet in writing and recording his own music, and performing with different rock bands. He was a passionate and respected musical collaborator, nurturing and supporting the careers of other artists in the Madison area and in New York City.

He had an aptitude for mechanics, electronics and carpentry, skills that he developed while working on projects alongside his dad. A loyal and dependable friend, Paul was your go-to guy for lending a helping hand or repairing broken stuff: your car, your computer, your heart. A compassionate person, he espoused civil rights, animal welfare and human dignity. From his mother, he and his beloved sister Emily learned a love of nature, art and wildlife.

Paul enjoyed reading, especially his favorite authors Mark Twain and Kurt Vonnegut. His life-long love of learning helped him to be a spirited conversationalist on many topics, from music and science to politics and philosophy.

Outgoing and engaging, with a dry and often irreverent sense of humor, Paul was the sort of person who made friends easily, and adopted many of those friends as members of his family. That so many of these friendships endured through time and distance is a testament to his genuine and caring nature.

He is survived by his wife Sarah Mae Saslaw of Portland, Oregon; parents John H. and Doris J. Heenan of Oregon, Wis.; grandmother Joyce Heenan, Stoughton, Wis.; sister Emily Heenan of Raleigh, North Carolina; Emily's partner Kyle VandenLangenberg; aunts, uncles and cousins; his beloved German Shepherd Dog Nico; and many loving friends. He was preceded in death by his grandfather, Richard P. Heenan; and grandparents, George Outhouse and Evelyn Outhouse.

Visitation will be held Tuesday, November 13, 2012 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at CRESS FUNERAL HOME, 3610 Speedway Road, Madison, Wisconsin 53705. A memorial service will follow at 6:00pm.

Those wishing to honor Paul's life through a donation should direct their gifts to the Oregon High School Orchestras in care of the Friends of the Orchestra (FOTO).

The practice of art isn't to make a living. It's to make your soul grow. - Kurt Vonnegut