Obituary of Robert E Heller

Robert E. Heller, loving son, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin, and friend, passed away surrounded by family on June 8, 2025. He joins his beloved wife and best friend, Marie (Markham) Heller, who had been waiting patiently for Bob. 

Bob was born August 29, 1934, to Wilma and Frank, and happily shared his birthday with niece Robin and daughter Mary Ellen. From birth to death, Bob lived in Bleloch Park, Peekskill, NY.  From this location, he enjoyed Blue Mountain Reservation, fishing holes, dart shooting locations, and frequent visits with family and close friends.

After graduating from Hendrick Hudson High School, he worked as an electrician’s apprentice for his cousin Jimmy Bleeker.  Next, he went to Fort Dix for Army Training, followed by service in the National Guard Reserves for six years.  He loved the history and romance of our great land; the settling of the West, the strife of the Civil War, and the heroes who served before him in World War II. Bob loved the tales of the West by Louis L’Amour and Larry McMurtry, and Jeff Shaara’s tomes on the Civil War.

Fleischmann’s Brewing on the Peekskill waterfront provided him with opportunities to learn how to brew yeast and work the distillery, but this job unfortunately resulted in an injury where he lost a finger. Making the best of the situation, Bob bought his first car with the insurance settlement and discovered he always had a fun trick to play with children using his missing digit.

Bob’s bachelor life ended in 1969 when he married Marie Restein (Markham), the widow of his dear friend Joe Restein. Bob and Marie had several common life-long friends and shared many interests, so it seemed natural for them to get together. In fact, Bob was a groomsman at Marie’s first wedding!  Bob moved 150 yards up the hill from his childhood home and became the instant father of three preteen girls. He loved the girls as his own, and was proud each one earned a Master’s degree in her chosen field.

After Fleischmann’s Peekskill factory closed in the early 1970s, Bob went to work for the Department of Veterans Affairs at the VA hospital in Montrose, NY. He happily retired in 1996. Plans for a long and happy retirement were unfortunately dashed when Marie developed cancer. Through 1998, Bob was the consummate caregiver during Marie’s illness. After that time, he missed her presence daily, carrying her picture in his wallet and keeping her memory alive.  

Throughout his life, Bob loved spending time outdoors fishing, as well as more competitive pursuits: darts, bowling, and the occasional shuffleboard game. Bob had many other recreational interests throughout his life: model rockets, radio control planes, mindful coloring, puzzles, keeping tropical fish, and metal detecting on school grounds and beaches. Besides watching the Yankees, he was always busy with hobbies or talking and visiting with family.  Perhaps one of his greatest joys in later life was going to Walmart and selecting just the right gifts for the children in his life.

Bob found regular time in his life for his parents, his siblings, and their families. He kept a weekly lunch date with his brother Frank at their mom’s house well into his 50s. They would drink strong coffee and enjoy her wonderful Hungarian cooking. His frequent visits with his sisters Dolly and Jane included many laughs as they all helped each other.  “Uncle Bob” was loved by all and in return had a special place in his heart for many. In particular, he looked forward to weekly card games with his penny poker pal Molly and attending her events. She got too good at cards for him, however, and he found his penny collection dwindling.

During his life, Bob stayed close to his childhood home but left long enough for occasional fishing trips to Canada and the Catskills as a bachelor. A favorite trip was the weeklong summer vacations with his family on the Jersey shore in lovely Lavallette, NJ, where the crabs ran large and Freddy Fingers played the piano at the Crab’s Claw. When hitting the road to visit his daughters, the country music on the Willie's Roadhouse station filled the car.

In addition to his sister Dorothy (Dolly) Malles, her husband George, and his sister Jane McGuire and long-time companion Dave Graham,  Bob is survived by his three daughters, Mary Ellen Porter (husband George) of West Hartford, Connecticut, Carol Storey of Beacon, New York, and Kathleen Wuorio (husband Jim) of Nashua, New Hampshire.  He has been blessed with six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren, with an eighth on the way. In the family’s age-order tradition: Elizabeth Porter and Emily, Liam and Peter Jacovino (father Ed), Amy Robinson and Joe and Ava (father Phil), Brendan Porter, Connor Witty (wife Jelena Dosen), Erica Neal and Nash (father Patrick), and Rebecca Curtin and Christopher and the almost-here Curtin baby (father Craig).

Our lives will be forever touched by Bob’s kindness, his willingness to share his love and wisdom (he always knew best!), and his appreciation of all things family. 

Arrangements include visitation at Nardone’s Funeral Home in Peekskill on Thursday, June 12, 2025, from 5 –8 p.m.

A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at Assumption Church in Peekskill at 11 a.m. on Friday, June 13, 2025.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in the name of Robert Heller to a non-profit that does important work and has meant a lot to Bob: Friends of Nor-West Regional Special Services