ALFRED GEORGE HEILER 12/12/1938 -05/26/2023 Predeceased by first wife, Teresa Anne Conforti Heiler; parents, Maria Giovanna Ciongoli Heiler and Alfred Hugo Heiler; and half brother, Philip Heiler. Survived by wife, Diane Pike Heiler; sons, Jeffrey Heiler, Scott Heiler (Terri), Stephen Herrmann (Kris); daughters, Leslie Herrmann Auvil (Jon), Ashlie Herrmann Dummeldinger (Leigh), Andrea Herrmann Mastry (Michael), 17 Grandchildren , 11 Great Grandchildren, and 3 half sisters. Al was the first in his family to be born in America and first to earn a college degree. He grew up in West New York, near the Palisades, overlooking Wall Street and Manhattan. As an only child with no father figure in the home he helped out by working after school in a garage. Al excelled in his studies but was never able to join after school sports or clubs because he needed to work. He bought his first car for $400.00 at age 15. Thus began his love for cars, his work ethic, desire to achieve and to never be poor again. At a very early age he set his sights on attaining the ability to live well and provide a good lifestyle for those he loved. And that he did! Al moved to Florida from Long Island in 1970, after having been a Lieutenant in the US Army, putting himself through college at night with an engineering degree from Pratt Institute of Technology B in y and a Masters from CW Post College in business. He was an engineer for Reeves Electronics Instruments and Fairchild Camera & Instruments (a precursor to Silicon Valley). Al moved his family to Florida to begin building 55 and older mobile home parks. He selected Pasco County because it had no zoning restrictions for M/H Parks. He became so knowledgeable in this regard that he was asked to write some of the laws which still stand in the books for M/H communities. He said he started out as a "Mom and Pop" business with his wife working the office and he doing the sales, engineering, etc. Sadly, his beloved high school sweetheart died at 53 years of age, leaving Al and his two sons to continue building the business to include 8 upscale parks throughout Central Florida and Foley, Al. In 2003, Al was honored in Las Vegas for having built the best new M/H park community in the US. Al, with his dry sense of humor, was humble but generous. Believing in a need for higher education, Al, anonymously, provided college scholarships through his Rotary Club to over 60 young people throughout the years and supported scholarships to Take Stock in Children. Family meant everything to Al. Coming from humble beginnings, he aspired to give his children a secure home. He once said he never knew who was going to feed him at night. He just knew it would be one of his loving Italian Aunts and it would be pasta! As his parents aged, he afforded them both and their mates with safe homes and financial security. Upon his second marriage, he showered his love and generosity amongst this big new family and was recognized by the older children as Big Al and Opa by the younger. He embraced and loved all his "big" family. He collected friends throughout his life like pressed flowers between the pages of a bible. He loved his friends and never let them go. Having lost two of his best friends through lung cancer, Al co-partnered with a radiologist friend by giving free Spiral CT Scans to Veterans. A number of veterans with early diagnosis were discovered, including himself. Al died peacefully in his home with his wife and family at his side after a two year battle with lung cancer. Not only was he greatly respected, he was very loved by all. An old Italian quote: "It is better to live one day as a lion than a thousand years as a lamb." Al was a lion. In lieu of flowers the Pasco Education Foundation will accept donations in honor of Al Heiler. Contributions can be made by going to PascoEducationFoundation.org Click on "Donate Now" and in the comments please referIn memory of Al Heiler. Checks can be made to the Pasco Education Foundation P.O. Box 1248 Land O Lakes, FL 34639 Memo: Al Heiler Funeral Service St. Mary's Episcopal Church Saturday, June 10, 2023 10:00 AM 37637 Magnolia Avenue Dade City, Florida 33523