Bertam Heil

Bertam Heil

August 31, 1924 to September 29, 2023

Bertram Heil (Bert) of Santa Fe and Los Alamos passed away at home September 29th at age 99 in Santa Fe, New Mexico He was born August 31, 1924 in El Paso Texas, the son of Henry and Viola Heil.

He grew up in El Paso, graduating from El Paso High School in During World War II he served in the US army Signal Corps. He was stationed in the Philippine Islands, preparing to invade Japan in August 1945 when he heard that the atomic bomb had been dropped on Hiroshima, which soon ended the war. He always said that the atomic bomb saved his life, as had the war not ended, he would have been one of the first to land in the invasion of Japan..

After the war Bert studied Nuclear Physics at the University of California Berkeley receiving his Bachelor of Science in 1948, He then went to work for the UC’s Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory (LASL) where he worked for the next 40 years.

On December 27, 1955, Bert married Pauline Levy in Bolivar Tennessee. They returned to Los Alamos where they lived for the next 35 years and raised their 2 children. Bert and Pauline moved to Santa Fe in 1990, and to the Kingston Residence of Santa Fe in 2009. 

Bert and Pauline shared a love of travel, opera, and culture. They were active members of the Los Alamos and Santa Fe Opera Guilds, and members of many museums in Santa Fe. Bert volunteered to help with the Archives at the Santa Fe Opera for many years.

Bert is survived by his daughter Susan Weaver, his son in law, Richard Weaver, his Grandaughter, great grandson, two nephews and six nieces, and many friends.. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 62 years, Pauline Heil, his parents, his sister Betty Levy, and his son, Bernard Heil.

A celebration of Life for Bert will be held January 27th, 2024 at the Kingston in Santa Fe.

In Lieu of Flowers the family asks that donations be made to The Santa Fe Opera, The Museum of New Mexico Foundation, or a museum of the donors choice.