Attorney Dennis W. Heileman, 49, died unexpectedly at his home Monday, Oct. 2. He had moved to St. Thomas in 1983 where he served as legal counsel to the Virgin Islands Public Employees Relations Board and as the territory's first hearing officer under the Virgin Islands Wrongful Discharge Act.
Mr. Heileman was a graduate of the University of Wisconsin and received his law degree from the nation's oldest law school, the College of William and Mary, in Virginia. As an attorney in Virginia, he served as legal counsel to the United Steelworkers of America, District 28. Dedicated to defending the rights of laborers, he represented some 15,000 coal miners in all areas of labor relations. He remained an active member of the Virginia State Bar.
In 1983 he committed to his life-long goal of living in the tropics by relocating to St. Thomas.
Mr. Heileman's passion for justice was reflected in his work, friends said. He was a solo-practitioner of law in St. Thomas for more than 10 years with a primary commitment to labor law. The Police Benevolent Association and the WAPA Employees' Association were among several union organizations that he represented.
He was the son of Elmer and Joyce Heileman of Milwaukee, Wis.
Mr. Heileman is survived by his wife and best friend, Aija Heileman; his sons, Jacob and Nicholas; brother, David; sister, Cynthia Young; brother-in-law, Dale Young; nephew, Brandon Young; sister-in-law, Inga Quillama; goddaughter, Joanna Jensen; and many other loving relatives and friends.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 11, at the St. Thomas Reformed Church in Charlotte Amalie.
