Edward Max Heller public services slated for Friday

EDWARD MAX HELLER, a renowned attorney specializing in bankruptcy law and mergers and acquistions, died February 12, 2013, at Ochsner Medical Center from complications from pneumonia related to his ongoing battle against Parkinson’s Disease. He was 86.

A New Orleans native, Heller was known as the “Dean” of the Louisiana Bankruptcy Bar. He was associated with the law firms of Heller and Heller, in which he worked with his father, the late Issac Heller, and in more later years with the firm Heller, Draper Patrick, & Horn, LLC. He was recognized as lead attorney for several high profile bankruptcy cases including the reorganization of the 1984 Louisiana World Exposition in New Orleans. Heller was listed in the Best Lawyers in America and was inducted into the first class of Fellows of the American College of Bankruptcy.

In addition to his practice of law for over six decades in New Orleans, Heller served as chairman of the board of the Louisiana Health Service and Indemnity Company, also known as Blue Cross of Louisiana.  A volunteer for several community organizations, he was the president of the Jewish Welfare Federation of New Orleans and the Harvard Law School Association of Louisiana. He also served on the board of directors of Temple Sinai, the Metairie Park Country Day School and the Community Chest.

Heller was a graduate of one of the first classes from Metairie Park Country Day School and matriculated from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill with a Bachelor of Arts degree, where he was inducted as a member of Phi Beta Kappa Society. He also was a graduate of the Harvard University Law School, where he received his LL.B degree, and, later, from the Tulane University Law School, where he received a Juris Doctor degree. Heller became a member of the Phi Delta Phi legal fraternity and was also a member of  the Pi Lambda Phi and Pi Tau Pi fraternities.

An avid sailor, Heller enjoyed sailing small crafts such as Hobby Cats and Sunfish until the end of his life. It was that love of sailing that drew him to become a model builder of sailing craft, trains and automobiles. One of his operational replicas – that of an early 20th century Thames River steam tug – became the cover of “Ships in Scale” magazine. He was also featured in the Times-Picayune for his work with mosaic tiles.

Heller is survived by his wife, Sandra Peilen Heller; daughters Karen Ann Heller (Robert Becker), Sally Jane Heller, Mildred Edith Denegre (George, Jr.), and Barbara Josi Heller; and four grandchildren.

Services officiated by Rabbi Ed Paul Cohn will be held at Temple Sinai, 6227 St. Charles Aveue on Friday, Feb. 15, at 12:00 noon, followed by a reception. The public is invited to call from 11:00 a.m. until the time of service at the synagogue. A private interment will be held at Hebrew Rest Cemetery No 3. Tharp-Sontheimer-Tharp Funeral Home is in charge of arrangments. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Metairie Park Country Day School, Temple Sinai or the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, Grand Central Station P.O. Box 4777, New York, NY 10163-4777.  Condolences may be expressed online here.