A die-hard Husky fan, John Heller was passionate about peace

Published 10:15 pm Saturday, November 10, 2007

SMOKEY POINT ­— John Heller was a man who lived life by a few simple rules: work hard, live with integrity, and love your family the best you can. He applied those rules while working for Boeing, to the political systems he felt morally obligated to comment upon, and to his children and the granddaughter he doted on.

“He was a great father and grandfather, a great husband and a highly motivated man,” Kay Heller said.

Heller, a University of Washington graduate, majored in political science during the turbulent Vietnam era and was active in the peace movement. His passion for politics often took him on various marches and to protests, once resulting in being tear-gassed.

“He considered it a badge of honor,” Kay said. “He was very passionate about peace.”

After college he finally called upon his best friend’s next-door neighbor — Kay.

Two years and 10 days later, they were married.

As a self-described workaholic, Heller threw himself into whatever task was ahead of him and into any job he had. After employment fell through at Weyerhaeuser, he immediately sought employment elsewhere and landed a position with Boeing.

While at Boeing, Heller not only found a job he loved but also friends that would soon become his extended family.

As a methods analyst, Heller and his team were called upon to scrutinize different areas of the plant for efficiency. Soon he would go on the road to Boeing vendors to help them get their production back on track. Heller would spend three to six months on the road. During this time the friendships forged were light-hearted and jovial to the point where everyone had a nickname.

Heller’s was “Johnny Cat”.

“He didn’t realize that it was kitty litter until later — he thought it was cool,” Kay said. “When he found out he laughed and laughed, which made him like the name even more. He had a great sense of humor.”

One of Heller’s passions was Husky football. It was an interest he developed while sitting on his father’s lap — they’d listen to a football game on the radio while watching a baseball game on TV.

After three years of marriage, the Hellers turned Husky home games into a family tradition by purchasing season tickets.

“Eventually even our vacations were centered around Husky games,” Kay said. “Our kids and family have been to every stadium in the Pac 10. Even during the school year, we’d take them and they would do their homework during a game.”

Heller also was an avid water skier, and pioneered polar bear water skiing while living on Lake Shoecraft. He determined the sport was best pursued in January.

“He would literally go out the very day the ice would finally melt,” Kay said. “John was very generous with his boat and took the neighborhood kids out all the time.”

It wasn’t until 1995 that Heller’s medical problems began and he developed a disabling form of vertigo that made it impossible for him to drive.

Well, almost impossible.

“He would sneak out and drive his car sometimes,” Kay said. “He had a 66 Corvette that he bought right out of high school while working at Pepsi as a bottler and a paper route.”

As his health declined, Heller spent much of his time pursuing his political passions, though much of his time was spent caring for his beloved granddaughter, Reace.

“Reace would always call him ‘Dad-Dad,’” Kay said. “There would be days when he would be sick and she would crawl up and comfort him.”

Reace, as Kay explains it, changed his life.

Heller died on Oct. 18 from pneumonia.

Heller leaves behind his wife of 34 years, Kay; son Nathan Heller; and daughter Carrie Hintz and husband Brett and their daughter, Reace. He also leaves sisters Karen Mark, Betty Gimmestad and Laura Frisk; brother-in-law Phil Clarke; and mother-in-law Phyllis Clarke.

Reporter Justin Arnold: 425-339-3432 or jarnold@heraldnet.com.