Robert Heineman

Robert K. Heineman Jr. of Delmar, 77, died Sunday, April 15 after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in August, 2010. Born December 19, 1934 in Chicago, Illinois, Rob was one of two sons born to the late Dorotha Warren and Robert K. Heineman, Sr. of St. Louis, Missouri. Rob graduated from Mount Lebanon High School in Pennsylvania (1952), Cornell University (1956), where he was a member of Delta Chi fraternity, and Cornell University Medical College (1960). He moved to Albany in 1960 for an internship and residency at the Albany Medical Center Hospital; served as a surgeon for two years as a Captain at Scott Air Force Base in Lebanon, Illinois (1965-1967); returned to the Albany area in 1967; and became board certified in orthopedic surgery in 1968. He was an attending physician at Albany Medical Center Hospital, Memorial Hospital, and St. Peter's Hospital, where he was Chief of Orthopedics from 1984-1990. He practiced medicine in the Capitol Region for more than 30 years. His specialty was total hip and knee replacement surgery. He was one of the first doctors to do total hips in the Albany area, and pioneered the use of a number of new techniques to improve surgical outcomes, including the use of antibiotics in cement. Later, he championed uncemented biologic ingrowth replacements. In 1971, Rob and his wife, Beverly, purchased what had been the ball field for the former Camp Mohican on the northeast shore of Lake George, first added a boathouse in 1973 (for his wooden Chris Craft boat, Driftwood) and then a summer camp for the family in 1974. He treasured his summers on the lake with family and friends. He served his North Country neighbors as one of the only orthopedic surgeons in the region by running a clinic from 1979-2008 at the Moses-Ludington Hospital in Ticonderoga. He was the team physician for the Albany Metro Mallers football team, where he was ahead of his time in advocating for better gear to protect players from neck and head injuries. He was also an adjunct instructor for the Department of Physical Therapy, Russell Sage College, Troy, from 1980-1997. As the son of a lawyer, he made his own appearance in court as an expert witness. At the end of his career, he performed many independent medical exams for his legal colleagues and enjoyed testifying in court. Rob was a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgery, as well as state and local medical societies; and a member of the American Legion, the St. Peter's Hospital Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee (since 1977), and the Schenectady Photographic Society and its Friday Seniors Group. He was a warm, generous, and loving man, with a sunny, forgiving disposition. When not caring for his patients, he loved boating on Lake George, skiing, traveling, and photography. Rob is survived by his wife, Beverly, of 54 years; three children, Debra Howard (Hinesburg, VT), Robert (Arvada, CO), and Matthew, who lives nearby in Clarksville with his wife, Barbara, and Rob's three grandchildren, Lauren (10), and twins Keith and Connor (7); nephews Richard Heineman (Jennifer), Bradley Feuss (AnnMaree), and Garrett Feuss (Annette) and their families; brother- and sister-in-law Roger and Judy Feuss; sister-in-law Karen Heineman; and sister-in-law Bobbie Feuss. He is predeceased by his brother Richard Heineman (2001) and brother-in-law Donald Feuss (2006). We're grateful to his doctors (Dr. Jason Heckman, Dr. Brian Steckel, Dr. Michael Kolodziej, and Dr. Robert Kelleher), to Community Hospice, and especially to Antoinette Nobles for the many caring hours she spent with Rob. Calling hours are on Thursday, April 19 from 4:00 to 7:00 pm at the Applebee Funeral Home, 403 Kenwood Ave., Delmar. A service will be held at the First United Methodist Church of Delmar, 428 Kenwood Ave. on Friday, April 20 at 2:00 pm, celebrated by Deborah O'Connor-Slater. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Fund for Lake George, PO Box 352,Lake George, NY, 12845 or www.fundforlakegeorge.org (donation link is at the bottom of the page). Rob's ashes will be scattered this summer at his beloved camp at Lake George.