Heller was born and raised in Manhattan, and was the son of William B. and Anne C. Heller. He attended St. Bernard's School, Middlesex School and Colorado College. From 1971 to 1984, he worked on the editorial staff of The Reporter Dispatch in White Plains, where he earned an Associated Press award for reporting and later, as news editor, a second AP award for his page one make-up of the assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II in May, 1981.
He was a director of the Moore Company in Westerly. He was also a board member and chairman of the audit committee of Premium Power Corporation based in Reading, Mass., and the owner of Greenville Plate Services of Greenville, Tenn., a manufacturer of laser engraving plates. He had also served as treasurer and longtime board member of Doing Art Together, Inc.
Heller is survived by his wife, Pamela; sister, Susan Klee Heller, of New York; son, William Benjamin Heller, II (Rebecca) of Brooklyn; daughter, Susan Taylor (Graham G.) of Cambridge, Mass.; and two grandchildren. He was predeceased by his parents.
Calling hours are Thursday, June 26 from 4 to 7 p.m. at his home on 2 Bayberry Road, Westerly. A celebration of his life will take place at 11 a.m. Friday, June 27 at the Watch Hill Chapel, 5 Bluff Avenue, Westerly.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Heller’s memory may be made to the Westerly Land Trust or to Doing Art Together, Inc.
For more information, please visit; http://www.gaffneydolanfuneralhome.com
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