Geoffrey V. Heller
April 24, 1924 - March 16, 2017
Geoffrey V. Heller died in Berkeley on March 16, 2017, after a brief illness.
Geoffrey had a vivid imagination, a keen intellect, and a sly sense of humor. He was kind and generous, and highly principled in his professional and personal relationships. He will be greatly missed.
Geoffrey was born in Dresden, Germany, in 1924, to parents of Jewish heritage. At fourteen, Nazi edicts barred him from attending school, and he would never resume formal education. In 1939, he and his brother, Kenneth, were evacuated to England on the final Kindertransport rescue mission. After two years of separation, Geoffrey and his brother reunited with their parents in Shanghai, where they lived for seven years, interned for some of that time by the occupying Japanese forces. Geoffrey’s recounting of this experience was the subject of documentarian Ulrike Ottinger’s 1997 film, “Exile Shanghai.”
In 1947, the family succeeded in securing entry to the United States, and settled in San Francisco. After an initial job as a can company bookkeeper, Geoffrey began working at California Physicians Service, where he rose through the ranks to serve as the executive Vice President in charge of administering California’s Medicare program. Geoffrey then founded and ran the Health Care Federation, a pilot model for delivery of health care, before joining the University of California Systemwide Administration as the Director of Health Policy and Legislation.
In 1955, Geoffrey married Irene Kissock, and the two raised their children, John and Audrey, in a very little apartment on Russian Hill, with a gigantic view of which Geoffrey never tired. Weekends were spent picnicking on Mt. Tamalpais or at the blustery beach. The family moved to Berkeley in the early 70’s, and Geoffrey lived in the same house, adjacent to a creek, for the rest of his life.
Geoffrey’s delight in beauty, both natural and manmade, and his keen eye for ironic juxtaposition, made him an exceptional photographer. His handmade Christmas cards are lovingly saved by friends around the world.
Geoffrey had a deep loyalty to friends, family and colleagues. He stayed in touch assiduously, long before that was simplified by email and social media, genuinely concerned about his friends, and worrying – often needlessly, but not always – when he did not hear back. Geoffrey’s flair at letter-writing was unrivalled.
Perhaps the greatest joy of Geoffrey’s professional life came in the ten years after “retirement”, when he taught Comparative Health Policy at Stanford University. He loved every class, and returned home with tales of the impressive backgrounds, insights and aspirations of his students. Many remained close friends, and these connections helped keep Geoffrey youthful in spirit, and hopeful for the future.
Geoffrey’s family and social life were full. In their 65 years together, he and Irene built a life of shared values and deep friendships, full of lively dinner conversations and cultural excursions. He enjoyed travel and introduced his children to the world from their early years, instilling a sense of the unity and diversity of humanity. He was a friend and counsel to his children, a creative playmate and appropriately biased cheerleader of his grandchildren Olivia and Sammy, a great appreciator of his daughter in law, Emily Payne, and a true friend to many.
A memorial is planned for May in Berkeley. Contact memorial@audreyheller.com for details.