Esther Heller, a respected educator in Denver for many years, passed away Dec. 3, 2009 at Shalom Park in Aurora. Funeral services were conducted by Rabbi David J. Zucker at Mt Nebo Cemetery on Dec. 6, under the auspices of Feldman Mortuary
Ms. Heller was born in Bialystok, Poland in 1914, the third of seven children of Martin Heller, a blacksmith, and Frejda (Mazur) Heller.
Her mother, two sisters and a brother were killed in the Holocaust, one brother died in Poland before the war, one brother escaped the Nazis and lived in Paris, dying there in 1994, and one brother died in the US in 1953.
Ms. Heller, her oldest brother and their father came to the US in the late 1920s. The goal was to bring the rest of the family here, but the war interfered with those plans.
Settling with her family in Denver, Ms. Heller worked during the day, attended Opportunity School at night and received her high school diploma at West High School. She had a perfect attendance record from 1933 to 1938, and received a scholarship to attend Denver University, attaining her Bachelors Degree in December, 1947 and M.A. in 1949.
She was inducted into the honoraries, Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Sigma Iota and Kappa Delta Pi.
Ms. Heller attended college at the University of Paris on French government and Fulbright Scholarships, studying French language and literature. She lived in Paris from 1949 to 1951, and was fluent in French, Polish and Yiddish as well as English.
Ms. Heller received her Colorado State Graduate Lifetime Certificate (lifetime tenure) in 1956. She taught beginning and advanced English and citizenship at Emily Griffith Opportunity School for 35 years, and French at UCD for 30 years.
Ms. Heller was a resident of Brooks Towers in downtown Denver from the time it opened until the time of her death.
Her hobby was painting, and she served as a volunteer at the Denver Art Museum for some 10 years. She was a dedicated traveler, having been to all the continents.
Her family said: Although she never married, Esther was very active socially. She was proud of the fact that she had won a dance contest at the American Legion Hall while studying in Paris. She felt a close relationship with her nieces and their families, bringing them souvenirs from her travels.
She belonged to, entertained, and lectured at many of Denvers civic and cultural organizations.
Ms. Heller was was recommended for inclusion in the International Directory of Distinguished Leadership, published by the American Biographical Institute, in 1988.
She is survived by two nieces, Arlene (Sheldon) Altman, and Sylvia (Kenneth) Gelber of California, three grand-nieces, three grand-nephews, and four great-grand nieces.
