Irving Heller, a founder of Congregation Beth Am in Los Altos Hills, died at home in Palo Alto on Friday, March 5. He was 86.
Heller was born in New York City on May 13, 1918. The son of immigrants from Vienna and Byelorus, his father was a cabinetmaker.
Adventurous from a young age, Heller served as a cabin steward when he was just 17 on an ocean liner so he could travel around the world. His love of travel stayed with him throughout his life.
During World War II, he fought in Okinawa. He settled in the Bay Area after the war. He married Willie Stein in 1948, with whom he had two children. They divorced in 1976. He married Jeanne Crawford in 1984.
Before Heller came to the Bay Area, he had received training in the diamond trade from a family member. His business, Irving Heller, Inc., served the elite of San Francisco for more than 50 years.
“He was probably the only expert in San Francisco who truly knew the business,” said his brother Raymond of Sunnyvale, adding that a close friend and customer was former San Francisco Chronicle columnist Herb Caen. “He sold wholesale, but a lot of the elite would go to him because of the bargains he gave them.”
Heller was not a practicing Jew, his brother said, but was one of the seven founders of Congregation Beth Am in Los Altos Hills. He did not remain active there for very long.
In addition to his brother Raymond, Heller is survived by his wife Jeanne of Palo Alto, son Paul M. Heller of Palo Alto, daughter Joy Gough of Sacramento and three grandchildren.
Donations can be sent to the American Cancer Society, Santa Clara County Unit, 1715 S. Bascom Ave., Suite 100, Campbell, CA 95008.