Thomas D. Heilman

My Best Friend is Gone

News from the East Coast sometimes arrives late to Hawaii. I just learned of a great, great loss—the passing of Tom Heilman.
I remember the first time I saw Tom Heilman. Lebanon had been my home for all of about one week when I spotted a tall man with a full black beard and dressed for a game, bouncing a basketball towards the South Fourth Street basketball court. He looked about my age, and I wondered if the bearded guy could play, or was the...

Dear Mrs. Heilman and boys,

My very first "favorite teacher" was Mr. Heilman when he was at Southwest Elementary. In addition to fostering my love of sports and fitness, he was such a very, very good friend to my dad. One of my last memories of Lebanon is laughing and laughing with your family in your backyard shortly before we moved. You are in my thoughts and prayers and I mourn with you.

Dear Heilman Family,
I got to know your family through Tom's cousin, Cecilia Karter Ruhl, who was also my best friend, many years ago while in high school.
Tom was always a wonderful guy, as
were all the boys and Jane, as well as his parents. I also know Eileen from working at the GSH.
I was saddened and shocked to hear of his passing and wish to extend my deepest sympathy to all of you.
Tom always remembered me throughout the years whenever I ran into him. It's...

Dear Heilman Family,
I'm so sorry to hear of Tom's passing. My deapest sympathy goes out to you.

Dear Heilman Family,
I am very sorry for your loss. Mr. Heilman was my gym teacher at Southeast and then LHS.
As a student, he always took the time to check in with me. Even years later, he would stop to say hello.
I can't remember a time when he wasn't my teacher, and I'm thank ful for that. He was a teacher in every sense of the word.
God bless your family.

Dear Eileen,
I was recently told of Tom's passing. My wife, Mary Jo, and I have you and your children in our prayers. I attended high school with Tom. He always remembered me whenever I saw him on our visits back to Lebanon, even though the visits were years apart. Bless you all.

Eileen and boys:
Back in 1973, Tom welcomed me into the Lebanon School Distrtict Elementary Phys. Ed. Department.
He meet two new kids on the block
(Sheri Freeland also)one evening at a resturant to expound on the expectations that would be unfolding shortly in our careers.Tom arrived on his motorcycle wearing a black leather jacket...not the typical imagine that I expected from a PE teacher.

We did many field days together...an entire week of back to back fun-filled...

Dear Eileen,

We were so sorry to hear about Tom. It is so hard to believe that he will no longer be here to share his unique sense of humor. He could always make me laugh like no one else could. I always think of Tom when I'm teaching and coaching to this day. Please tell the boys that our thoughts are with them at this time.

John and Bess Barnhart

Eileen and family. Tom and I grew up together and he spent as much time at my house as I did. We were great friends,my parents loved him as did my entire family. This is a terrible loss for everyone.
Betsy(Karinch) Dengler