On August 27th 1971, Paul was born to adoring parents, William and Justine (Polich) Heffron in the southern Iowa town of Centerville. The youngest of six siblings, Paul grew up playing at the creek, or in the barn, sledding down the neighbors’ hill or riding bikes to the swimming pool. He was born with spirit, curiosity, and an unquenchable thirst for knowledge. He took it upon himself to read the family’s set of encyclopedias in grade school. During high school Paul participated in band, golf, football, debate team, and wrote for the yearbook. After graduating from Centerville High School in 1990, Paul enrolled at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. While an undergrad, he was a resident adviser and spent many days exploring secret passageways and basement rooms, and even produced a clandestine local access cable show. Sometimes, he studied. After graduating from college in 1994, he spent several summers coordinating medical clinicals in the Dominican Republic. He went on to earn his law degree from Drake University in Des Moines Iowa.
In 2001, Paul moved to Washington DC to start his career The following fall, he met his wife-to-be, Sarah Kathleen Gorvad, at an Irish pub in Alexandria Virginia. The two had many fun adventures and made friends from coast to coast, eventually landing in Sacramento, California.
Surrounded by family and friends, Paul and Sarah married on July 4, 2008 in Centerville, Iowa. The ceremony was followed by a traditional drive around the town square, with Paul celebrating his new bride and the patriotic spirit of the country and his hometown. Paul and Sarah made their home in Sacramento where Paul’s real estate career and family grew. They welcomed their children in quick succession: Michael Paul, 2008; Thomas Judge, 2011, and Mary Kathleen, 2015. Paul and Sarah found joy in watching their children flourish in school, sports, and the arts. Following in his fathers footsteps, Paul imparted kindness, wicked humor, and critical thinking to his children. He taught his kids how to be good people, lavishing them with kindness and compassion from the day they were born. The Heffrons became parishioners of St Ignatius Loyola Catholic Church where their children and faith grew.
Paul’s other passions included home automation projects, car tinkering, photography, experimenting in the kitchen, and absorbing countless books. He loved music, including classical, British Invasion, and first wave. Spending time with family was Paul’s pure joy, traveling to Iowa for the family’s annual Camp Heffun and Camp Sacramento, and thoroughly enjoying every milestone and celebration with genuine and creative enthusiasm. He made perfectly clear his love of friends and family in word and deed.
Paul was preceded in death by his father, William Heffron (1934-2022). He is survived by his wife Sarah, and children Michael, Tommy, and Mary. Also surviving are his mother, Justine (Polich) Heffron; Mother in-law, Kathleen (Thomsen) Gorvad; Father-in-law, Michael Gorvad; his brothers Larry (Carol), Pat, Bill (Tammy), and Dan Heffron, and sisters, Sheila (Joe) McGreal, and Rochelle (Mike) Dickhoff. Paul prized his Iowa and Michigan nieces and nephews with whom he shared many favorite works of literature curated just for them. He is survived by nieces, Molly Heffron, Quinn Starla Heffron, Maggie McGreal, Justine (Mariah) Hess, and nephews Patrick, Dillon (Caitlin), Jack and Colin McGreal, Finnigan Heffron, Thad Sells, Harrison (Brianna), and Logan Hamilton.
In California, services were held for Paul at St. Ignatius Parish with a celebration of life on Friday, May 16th 2025. In Iowa, friends are invited to join Paul’s family on Saturday, May 24th at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Georgetown Iowa. Visitation from 1-2 p.m. at the church with a Memorial Mass at 2 p.m. and graveside services at St. Patrick’s cemetery to follow.
