Richard Andrew Heisler, the best dad in all the land, was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on Friday, June 23, 1978. He was the only child of Richard C. (d.2008) and Carol Heisler, but his extended family was loving and supportive from near and far. A bright student who loved all things nature and had a fascination with science fiction, he graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Rich went on to become an impactful middle school Earth and Space science teacher for the Freedom Area School District and was just coming into his role as their cross country and track and field coach. In his 30s, he met and married his wife and best friend, Cara, bought a home and became a father to his proudest accomplishments, Richard John and Josephine Mae. He also added to his extended family as Cara's family folded him into the mix. Rich was eager to share his abundance of knowledge with others, especially his children, and he was excited to learn from and laugh with the many friends he met along the way, too. We remember him when we come across…the Helmholtz resonance phenomenon, the Fibonacci sequence, the Wilhelm scream (look them up if you're unfamiliar), world events, obscure facts, an award winning home brew recipe, or of course rocks, minerals, moon phases, eclipses or constellations…
With no knowledge of the future, Rich completed his final trip around the sun on Thursday, July 2, 2020. He was 42 years young and so very loved. While he'll have a spectacular view of the 2024 eclipse he was so psyched about, he will be forever missed by all who knew him back here on Earth.
We love you!
"Take care of all your memories, for you cannot relive them."- Bob Dylan
