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WARREN -- Dr. Robert Heckel, 90, formerly of Warren, passed away Friday, Sept. 1, 2023.
Dr. Heckel was born Oct. 11, 1932, in Painesville, and grew up in Madison, the only child of Edward and Ann Heckel.
He attended The Ohio State University. In 1955, he married Margaret Mavko, with whom he had four children. In 1957, Dr. Heckel received a DMD from Case Western Reserve University. From 1957 to 1962, he also served in the United States Navy Submarine Force, stationed at Norfolk, Va. and Jacksonville, Fla., during the Cuban Missile Crisis. He achieved the rank of lieutenant commander.
Dr. Heckel's specialty training included the University of Pennsylvania School of Graduate Medicine, and residencies in oral and maxillofacial surgery at Grady Memorial Hospital, VA hospitals, and aTulane and LSU in New Orleans. He returned to Case Western Reserve and University Hospital to complete a residency in anesthesiology.
Dr. Heckel entered private practice in oral and maxillofacial surgery in Warren in 1965, residing in Howland Township. Practicing until 2002, he could count thousands as patients that he served in the region, both in his office and the hospital, often well after hours in emergencies. His children remember him regularly returning late to dinner or rushing out in the middle of it! Among his surgical patients were Earnie Shavers and other boxers represented by Don King. He took great pride in advancing his specialty and bringing those skills to his practice.
Dr. Heckel was a diplomat of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and served as an examiner for the American Board of Maxillofacial Surgery, for six years. He also served as chairman of the Department of Surgery at St. Joseph Warren Hospital; president of the medical staff at St. Joseph Warren Hospital; a member of the Board of Humility of Mary Corporation; president of the Great Lakes Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons; and site visitor for accreditation for the Commission on Dental Accreditation.
After retiring from practice, in 2005, Dr. Heckel was asked to serve as a clinical associate professor of maxillofacial surgery at his alma mater, Case Western Reserve University's University Hospitals. There he worked until earlier this year, and he was proud to have been the oldest person ever to have held the position. He cherished and enjoyed this position and, in recognition of his teaching dedication, each year the outstanding oral maxillofacial surgery resident at CWRU / University Hospital is presented with The Robert D. Heckel Award.
Preceding him in death were his parents and first wife.
He is survived by his wife of 33 years, Linda; four children, Robert Heckel, Laurie Heckel, John (Nena) Heckel and Katherine (Melek) Kayser; and his grandchildren of whom he was very proud, Theodore (Lauren), Elizabeth, Audrey, Evelyn and John. Additionally, he will be missed by his beloved golden retriever, Shadow.
Family and friends may visit and pay tribute to Dr. Heckel from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023, at Blessed Sacrament Roman Catholic Church, 3020 Reeves Road NE, Warren, OH 44483.
A Funeral Mass will follow at 11 a.m. Saturday, at the church, with the Rev. Christopher Cicero presiding.
Burial will be in All Souls Cemetery.
Memorial donations may be made to Hospice of the Valley, 979 Tibbetts Wick Road, Suite A, Girard, OH 44420; BestFriends.org; or a charity of the giver's choice.
Family and friends may visit www.peterrossiandsonfh.com to view this obituary and / or send condolences to Robert's family.
(special notice)