By Diana Henry - bio | email | Twitter | Facebook | Blog
MADISON (WKOW)-- A Madison man loved education so much he spent nearly his entire life surrounded by it.
The UW-Madison lost that strong advocate and supporter in December of last year. Bob Heideman passed away at the age of 86. Heideman graduated from the UW and later worked there as the Director of Education Placement and Career Services for 20 years before retiring in 1987.
We honor Bob and all he did in our special reports called 'Someone You Should Know.'
Bob Heideman had a passion for education. He's seen here in this video UW-Madison's School of Education put together 2 years ago. The video captures another passion of Bob's: public service and giving back.
"He grew up with a strong feeling of the neighborhood," said Carroll. "He grew up in a neighborhood during the depression and everybody counted on everybody and helped everybody. He continued that feeling all his life."
Bob, with his wife Carroll right by his side every step of the way, made a difference in the lives of so many people on the UW-Madison campus and in the surrounding community.
"I think about him from the School of Education," said Julie Underwood, Dean of the School of Education. "Katherine May thinks about him from the School of Nursing perspective. Other people think about him in terms of the ombudsman program or the equity programs or diversity programs that he supported. It's funny when you put it all together you realize the incredible impact that he had all across this campus."
The Heidemans split their money into thirds: a third for savings, a third for living on and a third for donations. Carroll read us a poem Bob wrote about the power of giving.
"If only it were possible to free each person from oppression; to give all people opportunities," Carroll says reading the poem. "If only it were possible."
Bob's legacy will certainly live on through those who knew him, the programs he's touched and endowments he's created with his wife.
"He would be so proud to know that his legacy has meant as much as it has and continues to mean as much as it's meaning," said Carroll.
Bob was also a long time member of the downtown Madison Kiwanis Club. They will honor Bob at their annual golf outing on August 16th. Click here to learn more on how to participate or contribute.
