Sander H. Heller

LTC Sander H. Heller (US Army, Ret.)

74, of Fishers, passed away on October 31 from a long battle with multiple illnesses ending in a stroke on October 27th.  He was born in Vallejo, CA on January 31, 1948, to Alex S. Heller of Allentown, PA, and the former Clarabelle Rowe of Trinidad, CO.  Both parents and his half brother Douglas Brian Heller preceded him in death.  Sandy is  survived by his loving wife and close friend of more than 48 years, Barbara Jeanne; by children Joshua A. (Jaime), Emily J. Erzar (Terrance), and Jonathan C. E.; by grandchildren Lauren Heller, Samuel, Nicholas and Evangeline Heller and Isaac and Brianne Erzar and by numerous nieces, nephews.  Sandy graduated from Vallejo Sr. High School in 1966.  He was the recipient of the Army’s highly competitive, new ROTC scholarship and the first recipient of the Lawrence Roush Scholarship.

Sandy’s happiness in life began when he married the former Barbara Jeanne Pearson of Carmel-By-The-Sea, CA, on October 12, 1974 at Casa Serrano in Monterey, CA.  They had become friends more than eight years earlier as freshmen at San Jose State College, CA, and continued good thoughts about each other over the ensuing years.  At San Jose State, Sandy was elected the student body Attorney General.  He was a lifetime member of Sigma Alpha Mu  fraternity and was selected for membership in national political science and history honor societies.

            He and his family have resided in Indianapolis and Fishers continually since their return from the Philippines in 1988.  Sandy started his Army career as an airborne, infantry, RANGER officer (RANGERS Lead  The Way), and he had combat experience in Vietnam and other parts of the world.  He also served as an intelligence, personnel and financial management officer.  His last assignment was as Assistant Commandant of the Army Finance School at Ft. Benjamin Harrison, IN.  Sandy’s Army career assignments included Georgia, North Carolina, Viet Nam, California, Greece, New York, Korea and the Philippines, where he was awarded three decorations, including the Philippine Army’s Outstanding Achievement Medal.  He had also worked in Turkey, Italy, Germany, Panama and Saudi Arabia.  He was a Master Mason and a member of the Scottish Rite, 32^nddegree.  Sandy volunteered for many community youth leader positions, including Lawrence Youth Soccer League Coach, Indianapolis area Assistant Scout Master, Cub Scout Pack Leader for Boy Scouts of America in the Philippines, children’s’ church teacher and leader.  Sandy was commissioned a Kentucky Colonel on the staff of Governor Martha Lane Collins for his service to children.  He was a life member of the Military Officers Association of America, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans and the National Rifle Association. 

            Sandy believed that family was the most important thing that a man could have to nurture and cherish, that family was the reason for being, and that God’s way was the way for the family to go.  He was raised as a Reform (Orthodox) Jew, but after much prayer, he came to know Jesus as the Christ.  Sandy was baptized in 1976 in Greece on the same beach where the Disciple Paul had baptized believers.  He and his wife, Barbara, were members of Geist Christian Church, Disciples of Christ, in Fishers, Indiana.

            He was known as a man of strong personal honor and integrity, with a sharp wit, a dry, quick sense of humor and as a warm, loving man with a big heart.  If you needed help, let him see that you did and you got it:  Time, money, clothing, food, counsel, or just an ear.  He firmly believed in a strong sense of right and wrong, but knew that the world was not black and white.  He hated and worked against racial and economic discrimination of any kind by anyone.  His family had great love for him, and, as usual, his children grew in appreciation of him as they grew older, lived more, married, had families and held ever more responsibilities. 

            When it comes to donations, Sandy was said to say IT’S YOUR MONEY.  Do with it as you want.  In his lifetime Sandy was a  supporter Wheeler Mission, P.O. Box 3085, Indianapolis, IN 46206; Geist Christian Church; and Scottish Rite Children’s’ Hospitals.  Burial will be in Highland Cemetery in Fishers, IN.