Dear Bobby, Lorraine, Diane and Kenny,

Was so terribly saddened as I played back the voicemail message on my home phone telling me your dad had "... slipped the surly bonds of Earth."  Tried returning the call from Bobby; but I, too, had to leave a voicemail message to convey my sympathy to all of you on the loss of your dad.

Bob and I had a friendship that began over 40 years ago.  I was one of the countless numbers of pilots who came to know Bob through aviation.  In my instance,  I was the first female pilot/flight instructor he recruited to the early ranks of his volunteer Accident Prevention Counsellors when he was the Farmingdale GADO (FSDO) Accident Prevention Coordinator for the FAA on Long Island. Without exception, all of us who knew him through our shared love of flying held him in high regard for his belief in and dedication to what he was constantly striving to accomplish as an Accident Prevention Coordinator.  Equally as much, we admired his remarkable zest for life and the enjoyment he derived from his interactions with scores of people every day for many, many years.  Bob had a gift for bringing out the best in people which, in turn, brought out the best in him. By the end of anyone's first occasion meeting him, they usually realized it was just the beginning of what would most likely become a long friendship built on mutual respect for each one's talents, skills and unique qualities plus a shared appreciation for each one's devotion to family, flying, music, and all that living life to its fullest had to offer. Bob was never one to be on the sidelines, but rather squarely in the center of LIFE from the moment it rolled out of a hangar and took flight with each dawn's first light.

I shall forever remember the awesome individual I knew as Bob Heckman and you each had the good fortune to call "Dad."  As much as he loved flying, playing his sax or getting a group around a piano to sing, throughout all the years I knew him, FAMILY always ranked #1.  All who knew him well, knew that each of you and your mom were the true core of his world, his life, the purpose and inspiration for all he did. It's comforting to know he's now with your mom, because it was apparent to those of us who knew him for years that a part of him went with her the day she went home to be with her Lord and Savior.

May the physical loss of your dad be replaced with countless wonderful memories of him you will recall with each new day. 

God Bless all of you,
Marilyn Smith-Mooney and
husband, Jack Mooney

I didn't know Bob that well but I know he was a great person.  He came into Dawn and my store/post office in Barefoot Bay a lot and was always in a good mood. I flew his airplane several times. The Cessna 172 he gave to the flight club. I had no idea he was 80. He seemed so much younger. I'm a great judge of character and I could tell he had great character. After I met him, I read online about his flight school in New York. He helped countless people realize their dreams. Just a great person and I'm sad by this. Our prayers go out to him and his family and friends.  -- David Hawkins, Florida Pilot Center, Dawn Hawkins - Barefoot Peddler/Post Office

" MY SINCERE CONDOLENCES TO THE HECKMAN FAMILY, BOB WAS A TRUE GIANT IN THE AVIATION COMMUNITY. IN HIS JOB AS A FAA SAFETY MANAGER HE SURELY SAVED MANY LIVES WITH HIS UNIQUE STYLE OF GETTING A SAFETY MESSAGE ACROSS.THERE HAS NEVER BEEN ANOTHER IN THAT POSITION IN MY 35 YEARS IN AVIATION WHO LOVED HIS JOB AS MUCH AND DID IT SO WELL. BOB,ORGANIZED AND BECAME CHAPTER PRESIDENT OF THE AVIATOR'S CLUB OF BAREFOOT BAY A CHAPTER OF THE FLORIDA AERO CLUB,HIS CHAPTER MEMBERS ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE ORGANIZATION WILL MISS HIM DEARLY"AS WELL AS I WHO SHARED MANY FUN TIMES AS A PERSONAL FRIEND.ALONG WITH MY WIFE DEE.--- ANTHONY (TONY) RESTAINO STATE PRESIDENT FLORIDA AERO CLUB

Dear Bobby, Lorraine, Diane and Kenny,
Our sincere condolences to all of you on the loss of your father.  Our thoughts have been with you this holiday season. May the loving and joyful memories of both your father and your mother be a blessing to you.
Love, Nelly, Joe, Andy, Nick and Katie

To all of the Heckman family, my sincere condolences in this time of great loss.  As friends and business associates of Ken Heckman, we are confident of the exceptional family that the Heckmans are, and of Robert's influence.   Our prayers for the Lord's peace to all of you.

Thoughts and prayers to the Heckman family.  As friends and business colleagues of Ken Heckman's, we share his sorrow in the loss of both parents in such a short period of time.  May the family take comfort in good memories and the love of family.  God bless.  (Marcheta Gillespie and the staff at the City of Tucson Department of Procurement)

TO ALL THE HECKMANS   WE HAD SOME VERY GODD TIMES WITH YOUR PARENTS  W E WILL GO TO MASS HERE IN PENNSYLVANIA  TOMORROW  HE WILL BE MISSED  HE LOVED MUSIC    WE WILL LET THE GLADIOLAS KNOW    GOD BLESS      LORRAINE AND FRANK RADICE

To all of the family,
My heart goes out to all of you during this difficult time.  I will miss Bob's wit and humor in his comings and goings. The best of neighbors.  

In my thoughts and prayers,
Nancy Seagle

Dear Bobby,Lorraine, Diane,and Kenny
Our hearts thoughts and prayers go out to all of you in the loss of your father.May the special memories you have, help comfort you through this diificult time.

OBITUARY

Robert C. Heckman

May 28, 1931 – December 16, 2011

Fountainhead Funeral Home & Memorial Park

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