Jerome S. HEISLER Sr.

HEISLER, Sr., Jerome S. Jerome "Jerry" S. Heisler, Sr.. died peacefully at home on November 5, 2017 at 91, born in Wilmington, DE on October 31, 1926 to the late Morris and Sadie Heisler. Jerry attended Temple University before entering Basic Army Infantry Training teaching small arms weaponry. Jerry volunteered to serve joining the 10th Army on Okinawa. Jerry's mother, Sadie, worked to support Jerry, 7, and his brother Albert, 9, after their father died. Sadie Heisler worked for the family business, The Delaware Barrel Company; one of a few women who operated a business. Mrs. Heisler died when Jerry was 19. Mr. Heisler entered the family business, his older brother Albert joining him a few years later. Together the brothers built Delaware Barrel into a regional supplier of wooden barrels and steel drums. In early 1950's, Jerry learned of a new plastic that the government had released from being "Top Secret", Polyethylene, which was only available in pellet form. The Heisler brother's group, after 3 years of work, beat out a team at the National Research Labs to liquefy and then coat drums with the product, scoring a number of patents for processes, product and design. Jerry has a total of 12 US patents and numerous foreign patents. In the late 1950's, the brothers took the company public, the IPO was oversubscribed. Jerry was President and Albert was Chairman. In 1964, the Board of Directors elected to merge with Containers of America (CCA) one of the largest worldwide packaging companies. CCA had a small plastic division which Jerry's group absorbed. Jerry became the division Vice President spending 10 years with CCA and 10 years with Mobil Oil which acquired CCA. The division became the largest industrial plastic container manufacturer in the world with 9 factories in the US and 3 plastic bottle plants, in Mexico, Columbia and Venezuela. Jerry licensed his patents to Container Companies in Europe and Asia. His division was also the first to develop and produce the foam egg carton which is a standard still today. Jerry was known world-wide representing the industry in many domestic and foreign government matters concerning the shipping of hazardous materials, chemicals, food stuffs and pharmaceuticals domestically and abroad. He worked with the Atomic Energy Comm. in developing containers to handle their unique products. These containers were used by every nuclear plant in America and on every US Naval vessel. Every branch of the military used his products for the transportation of hazardous chemicals. He co-authored Specifications for the military and the Nuclear Energy Comm. Jerry wrote numerous articles for the Packaging Encyclopedia and other industry publications. He was the subject of numerous articles. His industrial plastic containers were exhibited by the Museum of Modern Art in NYC and other museums. He was a member of the Society of Plastic Engineers, The Packaging Institute. He served as President of the Foam Cup and Container Institute and twice as president of the Industrial Container Institute. Later in life, Jerry went to the Stanford University Business School and graduated from their Executive program. Through the years, Jerry served on numerous Industry and Civic Boards. His service included the Medical Ctr of Delaware Holding Co, Delaware Art Museum, Leukemia Society of DE, Rodney Square Club, Jewish Community Ctr, Business Council of Prescott College, Kutz Home, Nat'l Conference of Christians and Jews, the 2000 Condominium Association, the Zoological Society of Palm Beach, and Jewish Federation of DE. He was on the Board of Directors of 3 Country Clubs and President of two. Over the years, Jerry received numerous awards including: Internt'l Award from the Society of Plastic Engineers' "Achievement in the Plastic Industry" for invention of the plastic shipping drum; Chemical Marketing Associations' Contribution to Packaging. He counseled the Packaging Authorities from the European Union during their formation & received their "Certificate of Merit". In 1984, he unsuccessfully attempted to buy back his division from Mobil; Jerry retired at the age of 58. Retirement was not for him, so he and his brother Albert, in 1986, purchased the Delaware Industrial Park, building warehouses and offices. The brothers purchased the Briggs Mobile Home Company and incorporated it into a new company, "The Reybold Group of Companies". Reybold has grown into one of the larger real estate firms in Northern Delaware. Jerry, Chairman of the Board, was active until his passing. Jerry met Leslye Mathes, from St. Louis, on a blind date. Six months later they married. Leslye and Jerry traveled the world, on business, as tourists and as golfers. They were members of Wilmington Country Club and High Ridge Country Club in Palm Beach, FL where they had a home. The two were married for 63 years until Leslye's passing in 2013. Jerry and the Heisler family, honored Sadie's giving by building and donating a house for battered women and children in Delaware called "Sarah's House." Jerry helped many philanthropic causes. His favorites were the Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, MO, which his wife's family helped start in 1902; establishing the Leslye Mathes Heisler Financial Scholarship for Student Nurses with Need; and the Leslye Mathes Heisler Trust at University of Pennsylvania for lung cancer research. Donations may be made to either fund. Jerry was preceded in death by his wife, Leslye Mathes Heisler, his son, Leslie "Skippy" Heisler, and his brother, Albert Heisler. He is survived by his daughter Carla Graeff (Stephen) of Chevy Chase, MD, and his son Jerome S. Heisler, Jr. (Dr. Rebecca Jaffe) of Chadds Ford, PA, grandchildren Jennifer Graeff, NY, NY, Katherine Bristow (Adam), Edwards, CO, Joshua Heisler and Rachel Heisler of Chadds Ford, PA. Services were private.