H. Joseph Heller, commodities broker, victim of Trade Center attack

A memorial Mass for H. Joseph Heller will be celebrated on Monday, Oct. 8, at 3 p.m. at St. Mary’s Church.
Mr. Heller, who was 37, was a victim of the World Trade Center tragedy of Sept. 11and was a commodities floor broker on the New York Mercantile Exchange. He was employed by CARR Futures, Inc., and was in their offices on the 92nd floor of 1 World Trade Center at the time of the attack.
Mr. Heller was born in Lakewood, Ohio, on May 5, 1964. He grew up in the town of Rocky River and was a 1982 graduate of St. Ignatius High School. He coached CYO basketball and was a defensive end on the St. Ignatius football team.
Mr. Heller obtained a bachelor’s degree in biology in 1986 from Fairfield University, where he met his wife Mary Jean O’Shea.
A Ridgefield resident for 10 years, he was the father of Jack 8, Catherine, 6, Grace, 4, and Michael, 15 months. He loved to ski and golf, and was an avid runner who successfully completed the New York City Marathon and often participated in runs sponsored by the Boys and Girls Club here.
He played in the Ridgefield Men’s Softball League for Qualey Tree Service and coached Little League for several years.
“He loved sports and he loved his children,” said Mrs. Heller. “He spent all of his free time with his children.”
Besides his wife and four children, Mr. Heller is survived by his parents, Howard and Roberta Heller of Lady Lake, Fla.; two sisters: Colleen Rastovich and her husband Robert of Ventura, Calif., and Mary Beth Luedtke and her husband Michael of Grand Junction, Colo.; a brother: Robert Heller of Atlanta, Ga.; his paternal grandmother, Marie Dalziel of Lakewood, Ohio; in-laws E. Richard and Catherine O’Shea of LaGrangeville, N.Y.; and many nieces and nephews.
The Joseph Heller Memorial Fund has been established by St. Mary’s Parish of Ridgefield for the benefit of the four children. Contributions may be forwarded to the Ridgefield Bank, P.O. Box 2050, Ridgefield, CT 06877-0950.