James Heilman

J and I had a long fun relationship before he had begun his long and productive work at the site now known as Sun Watch. We had an ongoing backgammon relationship for many years. Going to various places looking for interesting items often with Bruce Evans who ran the Dayton Art Institute who was also an antique buff. I went one winter to camp out in the first one of the dwellings built. Unfortunately the wood that was supposed to give us heat was not dried and made a lot smoke. I helped him...

Never went away from there without a smile on my face. We shared so many interests and stories. I painted the inside and outside of that incredible house and became known as 'Clear Cut' because I had to trim back the hedges to be able to paint the garage. Whenever an itinerant bead or rug merchant showed up, he would call all his bead friends to get over there to buy and sell. To walk through the house was an anthropology lesson. And the poodles were always friendly to me just like Jay.

You will be missed, J! You always had a great story to tell about a place you'd visited, people you knew, or interesting things you'd discovered. Tell Hester and Pinga and all your amazing standard poodle companions that I said hello.