kathryn pepple
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved daughter, Dr. Heather Jeanine Mahoney on September 16, 2024, after a courageous year-long battle with pancreatic cancer. She was 48 years old.
Heather was born in New Jersey but raised in Flower Mound, Texas. She was a celebrated high school athlete that played varsity basketball and graduated salutatorian from Marcus High School in1994. She grew up with a passion for science and medicine that she pursued by earning a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from Texas A&M University, followed by a Doctor of Medicine and Master of Neuroscience from Washington University in St. Louis. After completing her residency at NYU in 2007, Heather dedicated herself to the practice of emergency medicine, becoming a beloved faculty member and co-director of the emergency medicine residency program at NYU School of Medicine.
In 2013, Heather moved to California, where she joined the Department of Emergency Medicine at UCSF as an Associate Professor and developed a national reputation for her work in medical simulation training and advanced airways management. In 2018, Heather moved to private practice and became partner in the Mills-Peninsula Emergency Medical Group serving patients in the South-San Francisco Bay area. More recently, Heather had achieved the goal of merging her passions for medicine and basketball by becoming an NBA event physician certified by the IOC (International Olympic Committee) for sports medicine. Working with the medical team, event staff, and athletes at the NBA was one of the true joys of her life and staffing the last game of the 2024 NBA finals game in Boston a highlight of her career.
Heather was an avid traveler and fearless adventurer that had visited six of the world’s continents, summited Mt. Shasta, hiked in Patagonia, walked alongside gorillas and camped on an active volcano in Africa, floated between continents in Iceland, and scuba dove the Great Barrier Reef in Australia (to name only a few). She loved to share her passion for the outdoors and new experiences with her travel companions and the new friends she made along the way.
Heather was adored by her family, especially her niece, Vivian, who affectionately called her "Aunty Feather." She shared a deep bond with her sister, brother, and parents, as well as her faithful dog, Birdie. Heather was also loved by her Tribe, an amazing group of people that through their many adventures together created her found family in San Francisco.
Heather is preceded in death by her brother, Sean, beloved Aunt Kay, and both sets of grandparents. She leaves behind her sister Kathryn Pepple and husband Karl, niece Vivian, brother Patrick Mahoney and wife Grace, and her loving parents, John and Mary Lynn Mahoney. Rest in peace, sweet Heather. You will be deeply missed and forever remembered by your family, friends, and colleagues who loved you dearly.
A celebration of life will be held in San Francisco on December 15th, 2024. A memorial service will also be held in Texas in November. Additional details on times and locations will be available in the coming weeks and can be requested by email at Kathryn.pepple@gmail.com. In her honor, the family asks those who knew her to consider donating to PanCan — an organization that helps fight pancreatic cancer, the UCSF oncology service, the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle, or any cancer center serving patients and families in your area.
