Thomas Cornelius Heil

Thomas Cornelius Heil, Jr., 87, peacefully passed away on November 5, 2025, in Cincinnati, Ohio. Tom was a devoted husband to his wife Barbara Knight Heil for 65 years - a strong love and partnership. He was a loving father of three daughters: Dawn Heil (Michael Karee), Deanna Heil (James Guthrie), and Andrea Heil (Anthony Ravagnani). He was the grandfather to Christopher Karee, Nicholas Karee (Misty Vesneske), Matthew Karee, Laurel Karee; Madeline Guthrie (Jay Jansen), Daulton Guthrie, Wyatt Guthrie; Nicholas Ravagnani and Michael Ravagnani.

Tom was born in Washington, D.C. on August 24,1938, to Thomas Cornelius Heil, Sr. and Doris Prine Heil. He attended University of South Carolina in Columbia and participated in the Reserve Officers' Training Corps. Upon graduation he joined the United States Marine Corps. He was employed at Babcock and Wilcox where he worked in Design Engineering Technology and was the backbone for much of the company's boiler technology.

Tom passed on his character through example, as he was a man of few words, most of the time. His family knows him as a provider, a committed husband and a fun-loving father. Here are a few of their favorite memories that display his strengths.

His military background was shown each time the family went on a trip as he orderly packed the car. When camping, the Heil family set up a large square canvas tent, bivouac-style directed by Tom, with true military precision. Each family member took a corner, and marched in unison, unfolding it layer by layer. Raising the poles with simultaneous elevation was also key to keep it perfectly square with symmetric height.

With respect to his impeccable engineering skills, he helped his daughters with elaborate show-and-tell school projects of their choosing. Dawn chose a water dam, guided by Tom's precise orchestration, and a scientific explanation to each step and function. He also helped Andrea with a coal project, explaining how it functioned as fuel.

Regarding his parenting, he was a protector of his daughters' independence. On annual summer vacations to Long Beach on Chesapeake Bay, Tom would help his daughters swim without injury as he patrolled the sand and sea and cleared away the jellyfish with a net.

Concerning family fun, Tom designed and built a trailer to hold the Heil family's camping gear and their five bicycles precisely mounted on the sides and its lid. It was the perfect size and height for easy loading and pulling behind the family sedan. The best part was he let his daughters pick the paint color - bright safety orange.

A private mass will be held for the family. A celebration of life open house is planned for Sunday, November 30, 2025, from 11am-1pm at Blushstone Events located at 8125 Beechmont Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45255. The family is respectfully requesting no flowers or plants. Donations can be made in honor of Tom's memory to a favorite charity.