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Obituaries

Melvin A. Heffler | Accounting firm partner, 74

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Melvin A. Heffler, 74, of Society Hill, a partner in one of the largest accounting firms in the Philadelphia area, died of heart failure March 13 at Pennsylvania Hospital.

After graduating from Overbrook High School in 1951, Mr. Heffler earned a bachelor's degree from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He was drafted into the Army in 1956 and worked in finance in Germany before being discharged in 1958.

Mr. Heffler was a stockbroker in Philadelphia for one year before becoming a certified public accountant and joining his father's Center City firm, Heffler & Co. Over the years, the firm, which specializes in class-action and health-care financial services, expanded to three offices with about 100 employees, in Center City, Plymouth Meeting and Mount Laurel, and was renamed Heffler, Radetich & Saitta.

"In 1967, my father was one of the first accountants to audit Medicare reports for the government," said his son Brad. "He also did forensic accounting for the FBI and U.S. Attorney's Office."

Mr. Heffler married Judy Nichols in 1957, and the couple raised three sons in Wynnewood before divorcing in 1979. He married Helen Bianco in 1986, and they settled in Society Hill. He retired in 2003.

Mr. Heffler enjoyed photography, classical music and fine wines. He also loved to go crabbing with his grandchildren at his home on the bay in Stone Harbor, N.J.

In addition to his wife and son, Mr. Heffler is survived by sons Curt and Allen; nine grandchildren; and his former wife.

Services were March 14.