Walter L. Heilman

Walter L. Heilman, age 88, Class of 1948, passed away peacefully and painlessly on March 28, 2019, in Oro Valley, AZ with his family at his side.

Born in 1930 in Johnstown, PA, Walter was the only child of Walter Heilman, Sr. and Martha Heilman. His father died when Walter was only 5 years old, in the midst of the Great Depression. Due to severe financial hardship, the lack of life insurance and the fact that his mother wanted Walter to have mentors and a father figure in his life, she sent him away to live, work and attend school at the Milton Hershey School for Boys in Hershey, PA from age 12-18, where he was an excellent student, graduating as valedictorian of his high school class. Walter said many times that the years he spent at the Hershey school provided “the most significant, influential and impacting experience of his entire life.”

Walter achieved a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering from Drexel University in Philadelphia, PA. Several years later, he earned his Master’s Degree in Mathematics from Xavier University in Cincinnati, OH.