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Photo: Chiang Mai, Thailand. © 2024. I was born in Marinette , Wisconsin, and lived my first months in Stephenson, Michigan, my mother's home town. In June of 1945, my father, John, "Jack", O'Heron, Msgt, Army Air Corps, travelled with the 21st Army Air Force Photo-Recon Squadron, to the China- Burma-India Theater, of WWll. My mother, Carol Jean Bagley O'Heron, an RN, and "Jack", were married in 1943 in Bakersfield, California, where my Dad was stationed. After the war, my parents began to raise a family of 4 children. We grew up in Itasca, Illinois, near O´Hare airport, in the western suburbs of Chicago, which was the birthplace of both my father, and grandfather, John J. O'Heron. In 1963, while I was finishing high school, the US was sending many soldiers to the war in Vietnam. Young men, my age, had the choice to work, begin college, or face the military draft. Instead, I decided to enlist in the Air Force, like my father, 22 years, earlier. Although I was an average student, in high school, I enjoyed industrial arts, and photography. In Air Force schools, during my first 2 years I was trained and worked as a "crew chief", on jets, and helped maintain B-52 bombers and KC-135 tanker aircraft. Then I was trained again, as an electronics technician, to maintain the autopilot and compass systems, on those same aircraft. In aviation, I also learned responsibility, and, the necessity to do things correctly, for the safety of both those in the air, and others on the ground below. Returning to civilian life in 1967, I began studies, on the GI bill, at the University of Illinois, Institute of Aviation, and received the FAA aircraft mechanic's ratings, for civil aviation. There, I also learned to learn to fly. Later on, I realized that I was fortunate, to have these skills and licenses, and experience from the military, which made it easier to keep employed, and independent, and to afford to study, and to travel. My work in aviation continued, off and on, and in various different capacities, for Wien Alaska Airlines, Era Helicopters, Anchorage Helicopters, Rocky Mountain Helicopters, Aviation Language Schools, Flight Safety International, and other companies in almost a dozen states. I was involved in aviation until 1998, where, at Miami International Airport, I last signed my name, on an aircraft flight release. The links below, shows some trails that I left in aviation, during these years. References, Training, Certifications While working for the airlines, I also studied at the University of Alaska, in Philosophy, with Dr Rudy Krejci, then continued on to do post-graduate work, in the History and Philosophy of Science, at Indiana University, and at the Sorbonne, University of Paris, France. Upon my return from Europe, I enrolled as a photography student in the Fine Arts department, at the University of Calgary, Canada. Graduating, in 1978, I began to work professionally, as a photographer, and this continues on today, as can be seen, here on these pages, with images, taken in a variety of countries. .
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Travel and Editorial Photography Portrait, Actor, Model Photography John O'Heron photographing students, Seattle In 1984, my photographic interests and my 2nd career, took me to South America, for 6 months, taking pictures in Brazil, Bolivia, and Peru. I returned to Brazil again, in 1986, this time teaching English. Following that, in Florida, I received a scholarship to do a Masters degree, in Linguistics, at the University of South Florida, and upon completing this in 1988, I became a teacher. Then as my 3rd career, I taught English, at colleges and universities abroad until 2009. These job contracts, led me, in and out of Americas, Europe, Asia, and to the Middle East. Now, I divide my time between Florida, and Brazil, home of my former wife, Alzira Maria de Lima, who passed away, on July 29, 2017. Alzira John O'Heron at King Fahd University Graduation Revised March 12, 2024
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