Leroy A. "Liz" Heckman

Leroy "Liz" A. Heckman, 86, of Hamburg, died Friday, February 15, 2013, in Arden Court, Allentown, where he had resided for several years. He was predeceased by his wife, Joyce M. (Leiby) Heckman.

"Liz" was born in Hamburg on December 11, 1926, and was the son of the late Leroy S. and Viola (Sumner) Heckman. He was a 1945 graduate of Hamburg High School where he lettered in soccer, basketball and track. He then attended Kutztown State Teacher's College, where he played baseball, soccer and football and basketball. He graduated in 1949 and was named outstanding senior athlete.

Leroy was a member of the First United Church of Christ, Hamburg, Vaux Lodge #406 F&AM, Reading Consistory, and Rajah Temple Shrine.

He then began an extensive and outstanding career as a teacher and coach. He taught physical education and coached football and basketball at Chicago Military Academy in Chicago, Ill., from 1951-1952.

During the next 11 years he taught physical education, history, health and coached football, basketball, and baseball at Huntington Twp. School District, Schuylkill Haven High School, and was also head basketball coach at Port Jervis and Hamburg Area School District during that 11-year tenure.

His career continued at Muhlenberg Area School District where he taught physical education, geography, and was the head basketball and golf coach.

"Liz" then continued coaching at Elizabethtown College as head basketball and golf coach for a year and then continued his collegiate career at Lehigh University from 1967 to 1974 as head basketball and golf coach.

He then worked at Wilson High School as the athletic director from 1974 to 1984 and retired from Hamburg Area High School as a physical education teacher and athletic director in 1989. He was a Berks County Old Timers Hall of Famer and a member of the Kutztown University and Hamburg Area High School Hall of Fame. He was an avid golfer and a member of Perry Golf Course for many years. He won many golf tournaments and recorded 7 holes in one.

He is survived by a sister, Fern Bryan, Hamburg; two brothers, Gary L. Heckman, Mountain View, California, and Kenneth C. Heckman, Hamburg; and a stepgranddaughter, Courtney Schlenker, California. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews. In addition to being predeceased by his wife, he was predeceased by two brothers, Glenn and Sylvester Heckman; a sister, Leona E. Roeder; and two stepchildren, Pam Schlenker and Phil Bailey.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 498 East Bellevue Ave., Reading, PA.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. from the Burkey & Driscoll Funeral Home, Inc., 40 S. 4th Street, Hamburg. A viewing will be held from 9:30 a.m. until the time of service. Burial will be in St. John's Cemetery, Hamburg. Masonic services will be held on Wednesday at 10:30 a.m.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.burkeydriscoll.com.