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Bernard Heitman

We Miss You

Bernard Heitman

Born
26 July 1919, New York City
Died
24 June 2005, Fairfax, CA

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Fairfax CA.

On June 24th, Bernard Heitman 85, died peacefully and serenely surrounded by his family in his son's home.

He was born in New York City but during his early childhood his family moved to Spring Valley, New York where he lived for the major part of his life.

Bernard (Bard), after being a medic in World War II, did research work for Lederle Laboratories in the 1950s and then decided to devote his life to teaching and helping young people.

He taught science in Spring Valley High School, Kakiat Junior High School and Rockland Community College. In 1990 he and his wife moved to Scarsdale where he tutored children and teenagers with reading and math problems for as long as his health permitted. He is survived and cruelly missed by his son Fred, his daughter Laura, his wife June, his granddaughter Genny, his daughter in law Mary and his sister Ethel as well as by many close friends and relatives, Sid, Rhoda, Cathy, Dan, Micah, Stephen, Norman, Aaron and Larry among others.

Profoundly egalitarian, he had equal respect for the homeless drifter and the Nobel Prize winner. He participated in many varied science related activities such as archeological digs and ranger work in Bear Mountain. He was above all a humanist and a nature lover who was always available for his students whether for class related subjects or personal problems with which they needed help.

A memorial service and private funeral took place in CA during the week after his death. Donations may be made in his name to "God's love we Deliver".

Photographs

Family Picnic circa 1923
Family Picnic circa 1923Added by Laura
Family Picnic at the lake circa 1953
Family Picnic at the lake circa 1953Added by Laura
June and Bard New Year's Eve 2001
June and Bard New Year's Eve 2001Added by Laura
Genny, June, Mary and Bard 1983
Genny, June, Mary and Bard 1983Added by Laura
Father and Son 1988
Father and Son 1988Added by Laura
Bard's best K9 friend
Bard's best K9 friendAdded by Larry Ben Henni
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Notes and messages

All 21 notes

Mr. Heitman, you taught me how to read when I was in 7th grade when my reading level was that of a second grader. . Later in life I learned that I suffered from dyslexia but no one knew about that in those days. I owe you so much.

a student, 21 July 2005

In junior high I went through a rebellious period, hanging out with questionable people and flirting with trouble. Bard Heitman saw this but he didn't confront me or report me. Instead he asked a close friend to talk to me about the company I kept. I was smart enough even in this rebellious period to appreciate how Bard handled the situation. He treated me with respect and gave me the option to do better without embarrassing me. That’s a small example of how understated and fair he was.

A former student at Kakiat, 22 July 2005

Keepsakes

All 6 keepsakes