Bob died peacefully in his sleep on April 17, 2026 after a very long illness.

Dr. Robert Terence Heelan was born on February 8, 1943 to Paul and Anne Heelan. He was raised in Elmhurst, Queens County, attended Brooklyn Prep and earned his baccalaureate degree at Fordham University. Bob fulfilled his childhood dream of becoming a doctor by studying Italian at Perugia for eight weeks, and then studying medicine at the University of Bologna. He completed his medical degree at the top of his class in academics and Italian, and then returned to Brooklyn for his residency and specialization in Oncology and Radiology. 

Bob met in Brooklyn the love of his life, Barbara, and they were married on April 22, 1972 in St. Anastasia Church in Douglaston, NY, and would have celebrated their 54th Wedding Anniversary.

Bob secured a job as Research Scientist in Oncology/Radiology at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Hospital, and worked there for nearly four decades. 80 physicians from Sloan-Kettering attended his retirement dinner in 2013 and honored him for the breakthrough work he did in cancer research. One physician had just published a book on cancer treatments, and testified that Bob’s work on cancer research was cited no less than 50 times in the first 200 pages of his book. Another physician attested to Bob’s discoveries in lung cancer that led to its effective treatment.

Bob published the first article in the New England Journal of Medicine on the use of the MRI for cancer treatment. Later he was appointed the Director of the new cancer MRI Sloan-Kettering facility on 66th St. on the East Side. Bob annually delivered lectures on his pioneer cancer research to the Conference of Oncology physicians in Chicago at the McCormick Center. Bob also served as Professor of Oncology/Radiology at the Cornell University Medical College.

Dr. Mark Kris, a practicing Lung Cancer Surgeon at Sloan-Kettering, delivered a eulogy on Bob’s career, and called him a “giant” in advancing cancer treatment through his research and extending people’s lives, especially using the imaging devices of X-ray, CAT, and MRI.

Bob leaves behind his loving wife, Barbara, who cared heroically for him during his prolonged sickness. Surviving also are his daughters, Melissa (husband, Carlos), Susannah (husband, Michael), Carla (husband, Jonathan); grandchildren Giulia, Lucius, Alexander, Caroline, Natalie Ann, Ezra and Eve; predeceased sister, Mary, and brother, Frank.

Bob was very much loved by his family, relatives, and neighbors in Brooklyn Heights. He lived a life of faith helping other people. May his soul rest in the peace of Jesus Christ.