Passages: Carrie Heilman, Virginia Professor and Mother of Olympian, 54
Carrie Heilman, a long-time professor at the University of Virginia and the mom of UVA swimmers Thomas Heilman and Matthew Heilman, died on Thursday. She was 54 years old.
Heilman served as the Faculty Athletics Representative to Virginia’s athletic department, a position she held since 2017. She was a basketball player at the College of the Holy Cross, where she earned All-Patriot League honors.
She held the same role at Division III Washington University in St. Louis while teaching there. At Virginia, she chaired the Athletics Advisory Council Committee from 2008-11.
Heilman was an Associate Professor of Commerce at the McIntire School of Commerce. She received her bachelor’s degree in mathematics at Holy Cross and her Ph.D. at Purdue University. She earned the Lindgren Award from the Mead Endowment in 2014 and a UVA All-University Teaching Award in 2020. She was a faculty adviser to Virginia’s National Student Advertising Competition group, which won national championships in 2016, 2020 and 2021.
“She was an exceptional educator, trusted colleague, and a dear friend whose passion for family, higher education and athletics touched countless lives,” Virginia’s athletic department wrote in a social media post. “We extend our love and prayers to the Heilman family during this difficult time.”
Carrie Heilman also raised two successful swimmers in Matthew Heilman, a senior at Virginia, and Thomas Heilman, a freshman. Both attended Western Albemarle High School and were raised at the Cavalier Aquatics/Piedmont Family YMCA program. Thomas Heilman qualified for the 2024 Olympics, winning a silver medal in the men’s medley relay with the United States. He won a World Championship gold medal as part of the men’s medley relay at the 2023 Worlds in Fukuoka, Japan. He’s swum at two World Championships.
In addition to Thomas and Matthew, Carrie Heilman is survived by husband Brad, son Jason and daughter Katherine.
