Alison Heck Dupee, a devoted educator, compassionate humanitarian, and beloved family woman, passed away on Ash Wednesday, March 5, 2025. Born on February 10, 1982, in Dayton, Ohio, Alison’s life was one of unwavering love, dedication, and an enduring passion for making the world a better place.
At the age of five, Alison’s family moved to Cincinnati, where she met her lifelong companion and soulmate, David Dupee, at Hilltop Elementary School. Their love story spanned 38 years, including 20 years of marriage, and took them from Wyoming Schools to Davidson College, then through Joplin, MO, and Milwaukee, WI. In 2023, their journey brought them back to Cincinnati, where they lived just across the street from where their story began.
A beacon of joy, Alison left an indelible mark in every role she embraced. She spent 19 years as a dedicated French teacher, inspiring countless students with her enthusiasm for language and culture. She was known for her lively dinner gatherings, love for music, and deep commitment to helping those in need. Her faith in Christ provided her with strength and hope, guiding her through life with a contagious spirit of optimism and kindness.
Alison’s passion extended far beyond the classroom. Her love for languages and cultures intertwined with her dedication to humanitarian work. She devoted summers to serving rural communities in Honduras and a refugee camp in Ghana, and more recently, she taught English as a Second Language (ESL) to Mauritanian refugees in Lockland. Her heart for the vulnerable was boundless, and her legacy of service will live on in the lives she touched.
She is survived by her husband, David Dupee, and their three children, David, Owen, and Carder. She also leaves behind her loving parents, Jeff and Cathy Heck; her siblings, Jeffery Heck (Hannah), Stephen Heck (Carolyn), Parker Heck (Kendal), and Jody Heck Wortman (Zack); as well as her cherished nieces, nephews, in-laws, extended family, and countless friends who were fortunate enough to know her.
A Memorial Service to honor Alison’s life will take place on Saturday, March 15, at 9 a.m. at New City Presbyterian Church, located at 4400 Floral Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45212. The service will also be live-streamed for those unable to attend in person.
Alison Dupee’s life was one of joy, love, and selfless giving. Her memory will continue to shine brightly in the hearts of those who knew and loved her.
Gina Bongiorno shared “I had the privilege of working with and learning from Alison Heck Dupee, who possessed an incredibe talent for brightening everyone’s day. Born to teach, she was also an exceptional travel companion, guiding us to delicious food, including introducing me to poutine in Canada and making sure we were always headed in the right direction. Alison was a compassionate and caring individual who valued every person she encountered. Her passing will be deeply felt by many. Our sincerest condolences and love are extended to her three lovely children and family.”
Erin Cermak’s heartfelt message reads “I learned yesterday that my friend, my colleague and one of Fiona’s top three teachers passed away – Mme. Alison Dupee. When given the chance to choose between languages, it was a no brainer for Fiona because of Alison. And frankly I was jealous that I couldn’t be in class with her too. She made French accessible and fun, and was just pure joy to be around. Imagine Maria from the Sound of Music … she was like that.