Obituary of David M. Heller, Sr.

David M. Heller, Sr. died peacefully in his sleep at his home on Friday April 19, 2019 accompanied by his wife. He was 83 years old.

David was born on August 13, 1935 in New Brunswick, New Jersey. David was the son of Stanley Earl Heller and Margaret Mary Morris. Stanley and Margaret had three (3) children and David was the oldest child. He is survived by his sister, Mary Jo Heller Impalli and was predeceased by his youngest sister Carol Ann, who served as a member of the Sisters of Charity in New Jersey until her death in July of 2002.

David grew up in Jersey City, New Jersey and attended Saint Peter’s Prep and graduated in 1953. David remained very active with the Saint Peter’s Prep Alumni Association up until his death.

David attended college at night and graduated from Fordham University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Management in 1961. While attending college, David worked at Hanover Bank as a Clerk in the Money Transfer and Wire Department. After college, David worked as a Clerk with the First National Bank of Yonkers in Getty Square. He also attended the Dale Carnegie School, the New York State Bankers Association Executive Development School, the American Institute of Banking and the Stonier Graduate School of Banking at Rutgers University.

David started working for the National Bank of Westchester (NBW), a Lincoln First Bank, in 1962 as a Cost Accountant in the Controllers Department. The following year he became a Computer Programmer and worked in the bank’s Automation and Operations Division until 1972 at the bank’s offices in New Rochelle, New York. During that time, he was promoted to Assistant Vice President. In 1972, he was assigned to the Banking Division and was appointed Manager of NBW’s Central Avenue Office in White Plains in 1973. He was subsequently appointed Manager of the bank’s Larchmont Office where he worked for many years. During that time, NBW was bought out by Chase Manhattan Bank and David was eventually appointed Manager of the bank’s Rye Office on Purchase Street where he worked until he retired from the banking business. During his many years as a Bank Branch Manager, David touched the lives of thousands of banking customers throughout Westchester County.

While employed at the branch offices in White Plains, Larchmont and Rye, David became very involved with numerous civic and volunteer organizations as a member of the business communities where he worked. He was an active Member of the Lions Club in both Larchmont and Rye and served as a Board Member for the Greenwood Union Cemetery. In addition, he maintained all the financial records for the Larchmont Manor Park Association.

David married Theresa Ellen O’Brien from Rye on Saturday June 28, 1958 at Resurrection Church in Rye. Terry remained married to David for more than sixty (60) years until his death on April 19, 2019. Terry and David had 5 children. David, Jr., Kevin, John, Carol Ann and Kathleen (Kate). Kevin, John and Carol Ann graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point, David, Jr. graduated from Holy Cross College and Kate from Fairfield University.

David and Terry have thirteen (13) grandchildren and one great grand-child. Two grandchildren are currently serving on active duty with the U. S. Army and one grandchild is attending the United States Military Academy at West Point.

David and Terry spent the first five (5) years of their married life in an apartment in Yonkers before purchasing their first house and moving to Rye, New York in 1964. They raised all five children in Rye and moved out of the house when David was elected the President of the Greenwood Union Cemetery on North Street in Rye, and David and Terry moved into a house situated on the grounds of the Cemetery where they resided for the next twenty (20) years.

David and Terry joined the Rye Golf Club in 1966 and all five children participated on the Golf Club’s swim team and helped the team win numerous Westchester County Swimming Championships. David’s first volunteer role with the Westchester County Swimming Association was as a timer at the County Championships at Playland Pool and he eventually became the Meet Referee for the County Swim Championships each Summer.

During his officiating career, David served as the Meet Referee for both the Westchester County and Westchester Conference Swimming Championships. David also officiated at numerous Patriot League and Ivy League Championship swim meets and officiated at dual meets at such colleges as Iona College, Pace University, Fairfield University and the United States Military Academy. David served as the Treasurer for the Westchester County Swimming Association and the Westchester County Swimming Conference and the New York State Chapter of the Westchester County Officials Association for over forty (40) years.

David was awarded the New York State Certified Officials’ Association Distinguished Service Award in 1999 and was inducted into the Westchester County Hall of Fame for his Officiating accomplishments in 2013.

David retired as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Greenwood Union Cemetery in 2010 after twenty (20) years of distinguished service and Terry and Dave moved from the house on the cemetery grounds to their current residence in Port Chester. 

David and Terry have been active members of Resurrection Church since they moved to Rye in 1964. David assisted with numerous fundraisers and special events at Resurrection Church and served as a Lector for over forty (40) years.

A loving husband, an always supportive and caring father and grandfather, a dedicated and hard-working employee, an enthusiastic community volunteer and an experienced and highly qualified swimming official who was always available to mentor and engage with fellow officials, David was a friend to everyone he encountered every day of his life. His family and friends and our community will miss him dearly, but we will always remember how he touched each of our lives.

A wake will be conducted on Tuesday April 23, 2019 at Graham’s Funeral Home on Boston Post Road in Rye from 4 pm to 8 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be conducted at 10 am on Wednesday April 24, 2019 at Resurrection Church. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to St. Jude’s Children’s’ Research Hospital in memory of David M. Heller.