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.
legacy.comLegacySubPage2.aspOpen ↗
Story&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