Heffernan performed in a variety of roles in his lengthy career as a journalist with the Duluth News Tribune until retirement in 2005. Serving as a reporter covering general assignments and later education and city
government beats, he later served as an arts and entertainment editor and city editor. He ended his career as an editorial page
associate. For thirty-four of those years, Heffernan additionally wrote a popular
weekly "slice of life" and humor column. As a freelance writer, he continued writing this newspaper column post retirement, until June of 2008.
Heffernan received recognition for his writings and
work in journalism and was involved in past community media organizations. As a
member of the Duluth News Tribune's editorial department, he
wrote or contributed to editorials that received several state awards. He won a
first place in the Minnesota Society of Professional Journalism Awards for a
column about Hubert Humphrey; received a University of Minnesota, Duluth
Distinguished Alumni Award and was inducted into the Duluth Denfeld High School Hall of Fame.
Heffernan is married and and lives in Duluth, Minnesota where he enjoys family, community volunteering and freelance writing. He is a lover of history, opera and other good music and the theater.
