Lyman Oscar “Buzz” Heidtke, Jr. died peacefully at home on December 15, 2024. Buzz was born August 12, 1942 in Alexandria, LA, to Dorothy Gentry and Lyman Oscar Heidtke. His family returned to Donelson, Tennessee after a stint in Germany while his father was an officer during World War II. Buzz attended Donelson High School where he was famous for swinging from a stage curtain and forging his mother’s signature on excused absence notes only to get caught for misspelling words. Buzz remained close to his classmates and enjoyed organizing many of their class reunions in recent years. He graduated from Tennessee Tech University in 1965. Originally Buzz considered attending another institution but made a pivot after finding out about their 10pm dorm curfew. Tennessee Tech was dear to his heart due to the friendships he made and the invaluable experience gained as a business management major. Buzz believed in the power of education and felt lucky that he was able to support Tennessee Tech in many ventures. One of his proudest achievements was the establishment of the Heidtke Trading Room to help train aspiring finance students. This served him well in his 50+ years in the investment brokerage industry. He was a systems analyst for National Life followed by many years as a stockbroker with Spencer Trask, Dominick & Dominick and Thompson McKinnon. Buzz was founder and President of Heidtke & Co., a FINRA member firm since 1983. Over the years he held the title of Certified Financial Planner, Board Member of Nashville Financial Analysts, Board Member of Nashville Security Traders, Correspondent Firms Advisory Committee at Wheat First Securities and local firms committee member of Security Industry Association. Buzz was previously the Editor of CEO Newsline and the Editor and Publisher of The Tennessee Investor Newsletter. He managed the Mid-South Investor Fund which was founded in 1993.
Buzz loved being with people and staying busy which earned him the nickname “Buzz” or “Buzzie” by his mother who said he buzzed around the house Iike a bee. Buzz had a great sense of humor and regularly played practical jokes on others. One of his favorite hobbies was driving in the country without a planned destination in his giant car which he loved. Until the last couple years, Buzz was an avid tennis player meeting with different groups weekly. He loved to travel to Nantucket to celebrate his birthday each year and hear the Boston Pops. He spent every Spring Break with his grandchildren at the Ocean Reef Club in Key Largo where he often enjoyed a good round of cardio tennis with the younger set. Buzz was always up for a good time and traveled globally with friends and family throughout the years. Forever a numbers person, he was continually trying to count how many states and countries he and other family members had visited.
Buzz attended First Presbyterian Church and was a long-time member of the Bible and Coffee Sunday School class. He had a strong faith and cherished the relationships he built at First Presbyterian. Buzz often encouraged others to attend church and join a Sunday school class.
Buzz is preceded in death by his parents, Lyman Oscar and Dorothy Gentry Heidtke and brother, Richard Lloyd Heidtke. He is survived by his daughter, Annsley Heidtke McAleer (Robert) and granddaughters Frances McAleer and Beatrice McAleer. He cherished his large group of cousins: Susan Tarpy, Pam Salas Marcello, Carolyn Carson, Linda K. Gentry, Deborah Inman, Phil Gentry, Bert Gentry, Renee Gentry Gill, Joan Gentry Norman and Lynne Gentry.
Visitation will be Saturday, December 21st from 10-11am at First Presbyterian Church of Nashville in the Courtenay Hall followed by a memorial service at 11am in the Sanctuary. Burial service will be private.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Alzheimer’s Association, First Presbyterian Church of Nashville or Tennessee Tech University.
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