Stephen H. Heller of Westlake Village, California, passed away suddenly at the age of 73.
Stephen was the husband of more than 52 years to the love of his life, Sandra; the original "girl dad" to three adoring daughters and their husbands, Sari and Michael Ratican, Shayne and Ryan LaChapelle, and Samantha and Jason Scherr; "Poppy" to seven beautiful grandchildren, Brennan, Cooper, Eden, Hannah, Collin, Elena, and Adelyn (and two grandpups, Oscar and Romeo); big brother to Robert (Kelila) Heller and Kenneth (Patti) Heller; brother-in-law to Cheryl Fish; and, Uncle or Cousin Steve to nearly a hundred more.
As a trusted attorney for more than 48 years, Stephen dedicated his entire career to protecting the rights of injured persons and those who lost a family member by the negligent or wrongful conduct of others.
Stephen's truest intention was to forge trusted connections with others through storytelling, sharing his BBQ delicacies (his favorite go-to recipe was "First Timer's Ribs" by Steven Raichlen in "Raichlen on Ribs, Ribs, Outrageous Ribs"), and just catching up with family and friends.Stephen loved an oatmeal raisin cookie, a good pen, clever puns and Argyle Sweater comics, Ken Follett, Herman's Hermits and classical music.
However, nothing could compare to Stephen's deep and enduring love for his wife or, as he called her, his girlfriend, Sandy. From meeting in a ballroom dance class, to proposing to her while an undergraduate student at UCLA, he made sure her car was washed with a full tank of gas every week, wrote her love letters, and demonstrated time and time again that it never mattered where he was, so long as he was next to her, EGBOK (the acronym for "Everything's Gonna Be OK").Stephen's love for his family was unparalleled. His memory will forever be a blessing.
Published in Los Angeles Times on March 16, 2021.
NOTE: Burial was in Mount Sinai Memorial Park, Los Angeles, California.
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