George J. Heideman

George J. Heideman, age 104, formerly of Ligonier, Pennsylvania, passed away on May 12, 2016, in Tequesta, Florida under the care of Tequesta Terrace and Hospice by the Sea Trustbridge. George was born on the family farm in Union, McHenry County, Illinois, on April 9, 1912, as the seventh child of George E. Heideman and Mathilda (Schmidt) Heideman. He graduated from Huntley, Illinois High School in 1930 and the University of Illinois in 1934. He then did post-graduate work and taught at Yale University. In 1936, he joined the public accounting firm of Arthur Anderson & Co., became a certified public accountant. George was employed by that firm until 1954, but his service there was interrupted by six years in the Armed Services, being drafted in 1941 into the Army before Pearl Harbor, and leaving the service as a commander in the Navy in 1946. In 1954, he was employed as Chief Financial Officer by Kennametal, Inc., in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, and he served in that capacity and as a Senior Vice President and Director until retiring in 1972. He continued to serve in a consulting role to Kennametal for several years after his retirement. In retirement, George was active with the Ligonier Valley Library Association and the Ligonier Valley Endowment. He also was a member of the Presbyterian Church in Ligonier and Tequesta. He was a long-time member of Latrobe Country Club and his hobby was rose gardening. He was also a prolific writer, with letters appearing in The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Fortune, National Review, Greensburg Tribune-Review and The Ligonier Echo. During his later years he wrote extensively on economics and politics, producing several monographs on the benefits of free markets, social responsibility, and a design for a stable U.S. monetary system. In 2014, at the age of 102, the National Legal and Policy Center published George's first book, "To Restore American Liberty: a 21st Century Patriot's Declaration of Personal Independence. His Prescription: Privatization." Besides his parents, George was preceded in death by his wife, Sarah Elizabeth Blake, in 1992 and by his seven siblings: Edna Heideman, Emily Bernges, William Heideman, Hazel Heideman, Lydia Byrne, Alverda Evans, and Mathilde Bamonte. He was also preceded in death by nieces Catherine Loyal Howenstine and Sally Ann Scoggan. He is survived by his niece Susan Dunn, nephew John F. Byrne, grandnieces Rachel Dunn, Andrea Ford, Shannon Beard, and Catherine (Katie) Cich, and grandnephews Robert Dunn, Ned Dunn, Phillip Canavespe and John Howenstine. Before he moved to Tequesta, George resided in Ligonier from 1954 through 2009. A private family service will be held. Memorial contributions can be made to Hospice of Palm Beach County Foundation, 5300 East Avenue, West Palm Beach, FL 33407.

George J. Heideman

April 9, 1912 - May 12, 2016