Mendel Loeb Heilig

Mendel L. Heilig, 96, died Sunday, March 15 in Bay Harbor Post Acute Care, Salisbury. Born in Baltimore, he was the son of the late Marion I. and Minnie F. Levin Heilig.

Mendel was raised in Salisbury where he attended public schools. He was the class speaker of his graduation Class of 1946. He attended the School of Foreign Service of Georgetown University. He received his B.A. cum laude in history from Washington College and his M.A. in government and international relations from the University of Connecticut where he was a graduate assistant in that department. Mendel completed further graduate studies in history at Clark University and the University of Maryland. He specialized in British Commonwealth history.

Mendel was a Korean War veteran assigned to the U.S. Army, Information and Education Division.

Mendel began his college teaching career in history at the Altoona Center of Penn State University as an instructor. He later taught history at Hampton Institute, now Hampton University. At Hampton, he taught on of the first Peace Corps groups that was slated to go to Ghana in Africa. Mendel was appointed Assistant Professor of History at St. Joseph's Teachers College in Montreal. Later, Mendel was an Assistant Professor of Social Sciences in the faculty of McGill University in Montreal.

Mendel was very proud of his one year teaching experience as the History Master of the Kingsbury Technical School in Dunstable, Bedfordshire, England. He kept in contact with his colleagues, student and English friends for many years.

When Mendel returned to his home in Salisbury in 1975, he was appointed Archivist and Docent at Poplar Hill Mansion during the bicentennial year. The following year, he taught history and political science at Eastern Shore Community College in Melfa, Virginia as a one-year replacement professor.

He also worked for Telamon Corporation serving farm workers of the Eastern Shore of Virginia in a number of positions.

Mendel also worked as a training instructor at the Lowes Shore Private Industrial Council for many years and later as a substitute teacher at the secondary level in Wicomico County.

Mendel was a former member of the American Historical Association, American Political Science Association and American Association of University Professors. He was also a former member of History Honorary Phi Alpha Theta.

Medel is survived by several cousins; and his good friends, Karen Webster of Salisbury and Jeff Webster of Crisfield. In addition to his parent, he was also preceded in death by his sister Evelyn D. Heilig; a brother Philip Heilig; a sister-in-law Hida Christenson; and his good friend, L. Franklin Cooper.

Donations in Mendels's memory may be made to the Naab Research Center of Salisbury University or to the charity of your choice.

A graveside service will be held on Thursday at 11:00AM at Beth Israel Cemetery, 724 South Schumaker Drive, Salisbury, MD 21804, with Andrew Karten officiating.

Arrangements are in the care of Holloway funeral Home, P.A., 501 Snow Hill Road, Salisbury, MD 21804. Please visit www.hollowayfh.com to express condolences to the family.