I just learned today about Don's passing.  I am so deeply saddened. Don was a huge influence in my career. I met him through the Anthony M. Kennedy Inn of Court, when I was a student member, more than 20 years ago.  I got to know him through the Inn, and ended up working for him as a law clerk right before I graduated from law school.  His intelligence and wit were unparalleled. He taught me so much and always was a mentor to me even after I moved on to work for other law firms.  He even kept in touch with me after I moved to Los Angeles.  

I will never forget the time when I lost my job at a prominent Sacramento law firm during the 2008/2009 recession, and the layoffs at my then-firm made the newspaper.  Don called me when he found out what happened, and asked me if I had any job leads.  Nobody was hiring at the time, and I was struggling in my job search.  After Don asked how I was spending my time, I told him I was acting as a stay-at-home Mom to my kids because I could no longer afford (and did not need) child care.  His response--which I will never forget-- was "That's ridiculous! You can't be a stay-at-home Mom! You're a lawyer. Let me make some calls."   Within a couple of hours, Don called me back, and said he had set up a telephone interview for me with the amazing David Perrault for that afternoon.  Mr. Perrault hired me, likely on Don's recommendation.   I don't know if Don ever knew how much his help meant to me, but after 4 months of unemployment and no leads, I could not have been more grateful to him.  And I tell this story about him all the time.   

I will miss Don more than I could ever express, and I give my sincere condolences to his wife, children, and entire family.  He was a giant in the legal community.  There will never be anyone like him.            

Don was one of my heroes in life.  I had great respect for him as a true Mensch.  I also have many great memories of ski trips and golf games with him.  My favorite Don story involved a letter he sent to a car dealer (as a favor - he never asked for compensation) that had sold me a "new" BMW that was a factory reps car with about 500 miles on it.  Suffered with one issue after another for 2 years when it was damaged while parked.  The repair shop asked if I wanted the frame damage from another accident repaired.  Must have been a rough first 500 miles.  A day after asking him to send the letter to the dealer,  I received a call from that dealer and was offered an upgraded (3 series to a 5 series) brand new BMW for a huge discount which included a buy back of the old car.  My only regret was that I never got to see the letter.   

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Donald Heller

1 juin 1943 – 29 juin 2022

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AVIS DE DÉCÈS

Donald Heller

1 juin 1943 – 29 juin 2022

Lombard Funeral Home

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