Daniel Neal Heller

HELLER, DANIEL NEAL, 83, passed away Sunday, August 3, 2008, at his home on Miami Beach. As a husband, father, grandfather, lawyer, veteran, and philanthropist, Daniel devoted himself to his family, his clients, and his community. He was born in Brooklyn, New York. He attended Princeton and Cornell and completed his undergraduate degree at New York University, and thereafter graduated from Harvard Law School . He was formerly General Counsel to The Miami News (a Cox newspaper), the attorney who upheld the constitutionality of the Florida Government in the Sunshine Law, elected National Commander of the Jewish War Veterans of the USA (America's oldest active veteran organization) at age 39, an observer at the Eichmann trial in Jerusalem and the war crimes trial, in Frankfurt, Germany, a National Fund Raiser for United Jewish Appeal, former member of the National Young Leadership Cabinet of United Jewish Appeal, a White House invitee, and an official participant in the funeral of President John F. Kennedy. As a supporter of the civil rights movement, he provided free legal services to the Southern Christian Leadership Conference headed by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He organized a patriotic brotherhood rally to support Viet Nam veterans at Jackie Gleason Auditorium, which Francis Cardinal Spellman called "his proudest moment". He was a guest of the French Government at the 20th anniversary of D-Day, obtained the first public plea from Pope Paul VI to allow Russian Jews to emigrate, and was invited to Russia by Brezhnev. He was also a 33rd degree Mason, and Assistant Class Instructor at the Miami Scottish-Rite Consistory. Long active in the community, he served as a trustee of the Dade County Public Health Trust, and as a member of the Dade County Council of Arts & Sciences, the Mayor's Committee on the Arts, the original Board of Advisors at Florida International University, was a Board and Executive Committee Member of the Concert Association of Florida, and a Past President of the Florida Harvard Law School Association. At Temple Emanu-el, he was a member of the Board of Trustees, Past President of the Brotherhood, and a confirmation class teacher. He was also a Past President of Men's O.R.T., a founder of Mount Sinai Hospital, and a Past Director of the Miami Beach Junior Chamber of Commerce. Along with the love of his life, his wife of 55 years, Diane Star, he supported the arts and benefited the University of Miami Lowe Art Museum, the Concert Association, the Florida Grand Opera, the New World Symphony, and the Miami City Ballet, among others. He was known for his quick wit, his tenacity, his legal skills, and his bow tie. When he wasn't at the office, he enjoyed spending time with his family, traveling, and working on his roses. He is survived by his wife Diane Star, his four children Lisa Heller Green (who practiced law with him for 28 years), Mona Kornfeld (Irwin), Douglas Paul Heller (Jane Gilbert), and Brian Lewis Heller (Jennifer), his nine grandchildren, Michael, Abel and Staci Green, David and Susan Kornfeld, Lauren and Myles Heller, and Blythe and Gavin Heller, and his nieces Linda Matter and Mona Meretsky. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, August 6, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. at Temple Beth Sholom, 4144 Chase Avenue, Miami Beach. Donations may be made in his memory to the Concert Association of Florida and the New World Symphony. To visit this Guest Boo k Online, go to www.MiamiHerald.com/obituaries.