Mazin Abbass Heiderson Ph.D.

1945-2022

Mazin started out as a doodler and dreamer. He snuck into college on probation one summer and 4 years later he escaped in a rented gown and a single sheet of paper printed in Latin. It read: Historia. After that he worked for his Uncle Sam doing odd, dangerous jobs overseas. In grateful recognition, his Uncle financed his graduate education through the G.I. Bill.

For a time Mazin studied naked savages. When he hung his shingle, “Anthropologist – Open for Business.” He didn’t get any takers, so he hired out as a reading teacher of semi-literate delinquents. He tricked them into reading by laughing out loud as he flipped through the pages of books and magazines. He also sprinkled comic books, joke books, and other sub-literature throughout his classroom. The delinquents went through the materials like beavers. This established his reputation as a master teacher. A university invited him to join their doctoral program.

Dr. Heiderson completed the program in Reading Education and tried his hand at teacher education. Then it became apparent that adult education was harder than teaching children. After that, he worked as a training advisor and rubbed elbows with journalists translating the news part time. When he returned to America, Dr. Heiderson worked for 3 years as a professional translator.

Looking for normality, Dr. Heiderson returned to teacher education. This led him eventually to the Michigan Department of Education, where he worked for 22 years. Cleverly disguised as a bureaucrat, he tried to write readable prose and to invoke civility and humor into a drab and somber workplace.

His 2nd escape took him to Toledo, Ohio as principal of an elementary school. This gave Dr. Heiderson an opportunity to help his staff practice trust and joy in work. He summarized the school policy by 3 simple rules: don’t do anything immoral; don’t do anything illegal; and use your best judgment. If you need help, just ask and if I can’t help you, we will hire an expert.

Dr. Heiderson recommends modesty in all things and embraces the precept that there is no greater wisdom than kindness.

In loving memory of a kind, generous man.

“For what is it to die but to stand naked in the wind and to melt into the sun?

And what is it to cease breathing but to free the breath from its restless

tides, that it may rise and expand and seek God unencumbered.

Only when you drink from the river of silence shall you indeed sing.

And when you have reached the mountaintop, then you shall begin to climb.

And when the earth shall claim your limbs, then you shall truly dance.”

Kahlil Gibran, The Prophet

1923

Mazin leaves behind his wife, Mary; two daughters, Jennifer (Dennis) Renton and Christine (Charleston) Burks; two granddaughters, Emily and Rebecca Renton; two grandsons, Malachi and Titus Burks; also, an extended family of loved ones and a host of friends, both personal and professional.

A private celebration of Mazin’s life will be held. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Michigan Humane Society or a charity of your choice. Arrangements are by the Estes-Leadley Greater Lansing Chapel.

He loved greatly and will be greatly missed!