Bill was the son of William John Heiser and Edith Lillian Hinchcliff Heiser. He married Joan Marie Muller on December 17, 1949. She predeceased him on October 29, 2008, after 59 years of a happy marriage. He was her devoted caregiver in her later years. For the last four years of his life he enjoyed the close companionship of Mary Reynolds of Boynton Beach.
He is mourned by his three children: Thomas Heiser of Redondo Beach, Calif. and his wife Kiyomi Hasegowa; Nancy Heiser of Brunswick, Me. and her husband Jeffrey L. Cohen; and Carolyn Heiser of Gray, Me., and her husband Scott Lowell. He is survived by three grandchildren, Daniel Cohen of New York, NY; Jillian Cohen Marshall of Denver, Co.; and Jesse Lowell of Gray, Me. He is also survived by one brother, Richard Heiser of Tucson, AR and his wife Lori and their children James and Claire.
Bill graduated with an engineering degree from Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, N.J. in 1944 as salutatorian of his class. He earned a masters of science, also from Stevens. He served in the Navy from 1944-5 as radar technician in the Pacific.
His first job out of college was with General Electric. He worked on emerging television technology and quality control at Dumont Television. His later career was in the field of communications technology, working on radar and satellite systems for ITT and RCA. He worked on projects at Computer Sciences Corporation, American Express, and Western Union. His work took him around the world, and he held several patents.
Bill Heiser retired in 1985. Ever curious, he delved into art, music, and the humanities by visiting museums and libraries, traveling, and reading extensively. He was outgoing and generous, and he loved meeting people of all ages. As he entered his 80’s, bridge became a passion. He played tournament duplicate bridge, earning several Master points. His partners claimed he was a gracious as well as skilled competitor.
Bill was a communicant of the Roman Catholic Church. He stayed active, playing golf, tennis and skiing well into his later years. His travels took him to Greece, Turkey, South Africa, Japan, Equator, Australia, and Europe. He attended the wedding of his granddaughter this October in Colorado, where he was able to connect with much of his family.
He will be remembered as a happy, intelligent, generous and fulfilled man. Services were held in early January. Gifts in his memory may be made to the Ramsey Public Library, 30 Wyckoff Ave., Ramsey, N.J. 07446, a place he visited nearly every day.
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