Arrangements for the Celebration of Life for Dr. Heide Hlawaty

As many of you know, we lost our dear colleague and friend, Dr. Heidi Hlawaty, earlier this year. While time has passed, the loss continues to be felt throughout our community. Heidi was more than a gifted educator, she was a brilliant scholar, a compassionate mentor, and a treasured member of our faculty whose warmth, generosity, and unwavering commitment to her students left a lasting impression on everyone fortunate enough to know her.
Heidi’s legacy lives in the countless lives she touched through her teaching, mentorship, and friendship. She will be remembered with great admiration, deep gratitude, and affection for the extraordinary person she was. Her presence enriched our college, and she will forever hold a special place in the hearts of our MCNY community.
On behalf of Dr. Hlawaty’s family, I am honored to share the details of her Celebration of Life. Family, friends, colleagues, former students, and all whose lives were touched by Heidi are warmly invited to gather in remembrance and celebration of a life so beautifully lived.
Celebration of Life
Saturday, July 25, 2026
2:00 PM
Levittown Fire Department – Ronald T. Kerwin Hall
120 Gardiners Avenue
Levittown, NY 11756
If you plan to attend, please RSVP to rosaliehlawaty@yahoo.com or call or text (566) 528-8822.
As we come together to celebrate Heidi’s life, may we find comfort in the memories we shared, the lessons she imparted, and the kindness she so freely gave. Though she is no longer with us, her spirit will continue to inspire us, and her legacy will remain woven into the fabric of our college community for years to come.
With heartfelt sympathy,
Dr. Marcella Pizzo
Associate Dean, Audrey Cohen School for Human Services and Education

Dear MCNY Community,

With a heavy heart, we share the news of the passing of Dr. Heide Hlawaty.

Dr. Heide Hlawaty was a tough professor and one of the kindest souls. She held her students to a high standard and stayed with them until they reached it. Whether she was creating hands-on science experiments for future elementary school teachers or guiding students through the challenge of writing and delivering their first speech, she helped them see what they were capable of, often before they saw it themselves. She brought that same expectation of excellence to her colleagues.

Dr. Hlawaty was a longstanding and senior member of the Audrey Cohen School for Human Services and Education. She served on important committees across the college, including search committees and the Faculty Status Committee, where her wisdom and even temperament supported candidates for rank and promotion. At one time, she also served as faculty coordinator for academic activities at what was then the Bronx campus, where she was entrusted with ensuring that course delivery across all schools was appropriate and effective.

She took real pride in Commencement. For more than ten years, she stood at the podium calling each graduate’s name with care and precision, as if each one were a king or queen. She understood what that moment meant, especially for those who once doubted they would ever get there.

Her creativity showed up in quieter ways, too. With each change of season, she made small batches of jam using fruits and flowers at their peak. She would bring them in, carefully labeled, and share them with faculty, staff, and students.

Many may not know that Heide also loved to sing. She participated in a choral club on Long Island and often shared the anthems that would be sung at her church during Easter, Christmas, and other celebrations. It was a reflection of the well-rounded person we knew and appreciated.

Now the season has changed, and we say farewell to a scholar, a mentor, and a caring friend. She leaves behind a community that is better for having known her, and a legacy that, in many ways, made life a little sweeter.

Arrangements will be shared with the community when they are received.

Respectfully,
Humphrey A. Crookendale
Vice President for Academic Affairs