The name will be familiar to those who were members of the
L.A.W./BICYCLE USA/whatever in the mid-80's.
Keith sent me a letter early in my tenure as editor of the League's
magazine. It suggested--make that insisted--that The League address
the concerns of folks for whom a standard-size bike frame (and
accessories) won't work. IIRC Keith was 4'9" and suffered through
several stock frames until he ordered up a custom Assenmacher bike.
Since I had a big rally (GEAR in the Bluegrass) right around the
corner, I set his letter aside. (This was in the Dark Ages before
e-mail, faxes, express mail, and the like.)
Sure enough, he came down to the GEAR event along with a bunch of
other folks from the Ann Arbor club. I was standing with Georgena
Terry at the ice cream social, and he walked up and described to her
his frustrations at The League. "They didn't even answer my letter,"
he fumed. Georgena wanted to point me out to him (I may have slipped a
shoulder strap over my EDITOR nametag) but I held her off and let him
have his say.
When he was done, I told him that I had gotten his letter, and
clearly what didn't mean that much to me was a Big Deal to him. (At
5'6" and big bones, I loomed over him.) "How about if you write the
article?" I suggested.
After the shock wore off, and some negotiation, encouragement, and
discussion, he said he would. (Either he had his bike with him or he
went to fetch it to pose for a photo by Tom Moran.)
A few weeks later a wonderful article arrived. This little guy
explained the problem in a personal way, and I never could have done
the subject justice. IIRC it needed very minor revisions/editing.
When combined with a couple more pieces from the female short-torso
point of view, and some pics I shot at a local tour that September, it
became a very nice feature piece of several pages. Published December
'85, I think (cover photo of red and green flowers in a container next
to a charming young lady with a tiny bike).
For years afterwards whenever we crossed paths (at AABTS rides,
Horsey 100, or downtown Ann Arbor) we'd exchange pleasantries and a
hug. I still recall him griping about the improper packing job a
remote seller used on a tandem Keith bought; a wheel slipped and the
hub dented Keith's top tube. He bought a sticker from me to help cover
up the dent.
He was a real nice person and fun to know.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Keith Heller
Iowa City, IA Age 48, died April 26, 2004 at University of
Iowa Hospitals and Clinics after a long battle with congestive heart
failure. ...Memorials may be directed to the Iowa Donor Network,
Agudas Achim Congregation, or Adventure Cycling.
Keith was born August 5, 1955 in Detroit, MI, the son of Benjamin &
Vera
(Broder) Heller. He graduated from Southfield-Lathrup High School in
Southfield, MI. He then received his bachelor's degree, dental degree,
and
his doctorate in public health from the University of Michigan. Keith
married Elizabeth Jones October 9, 1994 in Williamsburg, VA. Keith
served
in a public health clinic in Monroe, MI; in private practice in
Jackson, MI
and Beaver, PA; in the pediatric dentistry department at Mott
Children's
Hospital in Flint, MI; as a research investigator at the University of
Michigan and currently as an assistant professor with The University
of
Iowa College of Dentistry. He was a member of Agudas Achim
Congregation,
the American Board of Public Health Dentistry and was board certified
in
public health dentistry. Keith enjoyed jazz, good food and had a
passion
for cycling and his friends. During the Bikecentennial in the late
1970s,
Keith rode from Virginia to Oregon.
http://www.legacy.com/annarbor/LegacySubPage2.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonId=232
4211 along with an on-line guest bool
....
--Karen Missavage
editor of League pubs 1984-86
and very sorry to learn of my buddy's demise