Robert Llewellyn Heger

1929 - 2014

Robert Llewellyn Heger

Robert Llewellyn Heger departed his earthly canvas on St. Patrick's Day, 2014, due to pneumonia as a complication of his long battle with Multiple System Atrophy. Born an eternal optimist on February 4th, 1929 in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Bob married his childhood sweetheart "Patty" Mann there almost 64 years ago. An early forced retirement found Bob putting down his CPA/Comptroller's calculator and picking up a paintbrush on a whim. Soon the latent artist was teaching art classes while displaying his work around the metro Detroit area. Shortly after moving to West Lafayette in 1991, Bob was again in his element teaching his popular "Mondays with Bob" pastel class. His rapid-fire wit and cheerful, patient demeanor made Bob a natural teacher. Bob and his paintings were both colorful--he always had a joke at the ready. The artist had a passion for the great outdoors, and his captivating landscapes reflected as much. His numerous awards delighted his family, but Bob was satisfied merely doing what he loved. An avid lifelong music enthusiast, Bob's household regularly awoke to the loud dawn strains of Dixieland jazz, (much to the chagrin of his 4 teenage children); it served as an accompaniment to the morning ritual of finding his car keys. Bob was the greatest of animal lovers; one or more in his succession of beloved German Shepherds, and a perpetual bowl of his favorite food--ice cream--were never far from his side. "Pop" was preceded in death by his parents Helen and Frank Heger, brother Francis, and son-in-law Alan (Julie) Croteau. His wife and their children survive Bob: Julie Croteau, Robert R. and Barry Heger, Kathie and Dr. Peter Mazzara, as do Bob's sisters Betty Page and Joyce Sherman, and grandchildren Mike Croteau, John and Kevin Heger, Carolyn and Brian Mazzara. A long, industrious, creative life well lived, Robert L. Heger will be publicly remembered through his paintings on permanent display at the Art Museum of Greater Lafayette and throughout the Lafayette and metropolitan Detroit area, while the memory of his altruistic spirit will be displayed as vibrantly as his works of art in the hearts of his family and friends.