Remembering Fred Hecklinger, Former AL Dean of Students

Fred Hecklinger (retired) was a coordinator of counseling and beloved dean of students at NOVA Alexandria.  He passed away on May 24, 2021.  Born in Syracuse, New York in 1940, Fred received B.S. and M.Ed. degrees from St. Lawrence University and a Ph.D. from New York University. He devoted his career to helping college students with their academic and career goals. He was a champion of student development at Northern Virginia Community College and the first recipient of the Virginia Counselors Association’s “Counselor of the Year” award. 

Fred was also a supporter of student services staff, encouraging them to complete their degrees and transition to positions in counseling and leadership. He is co-author of Training for Life:  A Practical Guide to Career and Life Planning with former counselor Bernadette Black. After NOVA, he gave seminars on retirement planning and encouraged his colleagues to prepare in advance. 

His celebration of life occurred on June 6.  He is survived by his wife Peggy, son John, daughter-in-law Katie and two grandsons Miles and Henry.  Donations in his memory can be made to Global Fund for Children at www.globalfundforchildren.org or BlackRock Center for the Arts at www.blackrockcenter.org.

Submitted by:
Sherri Anna Brown, associate dean of counseling services, AL; SABrown@nvcc.edu