obituaries

Dr. Richard Heilman of St. Paul, a pioneer in drug dependency treatment, died of natural causes Friday. He was 81.

Heilman revolutionized the way addiction was treated at Veterans Administration hospitals across the nation during the Vietnam War, developing methods to diagnose drug dependencies in their early stages and building understanding about the dynamics of drug dependency.

A World War II flight officer, Heilman graduated from the University of Wisconsin Medical School and did his psychiatric residency at the University of Minnesota, where he would meet his wife, Patricia. His own recovery from addiction led him to establish a treatment program at the beginning of his 32 years with the Minneapolis VA Hospital.

Vincent Pletcher, a friend and colleague of Heilman's for the past 40 years, estimated that the low-key doctor treated more than 18,000 patients at the hospital. "This soft-spoken guy was an inspirational giant," he said. "Many felt he was their mentor, his guru and attributed to him that he helped transition their lives into recovery."

Other VA hospitals emulated Heilman's programs, which recognized alcoholism and nicotine addiction, and later went smoke-free at his urging. He was instrumental in the founding of several area transitional houses.

Heilman's study of chemical dependency led him to develop a way to diagnose addiction based on a pattern of drug use instead of quantity or frequency, and to characterize the urges addicts must overcome on their way to recovery.

"To say he was ahead of his time every step of the way is hard to illustrate, but he really was," Pletcher said.

Heilman retired in 1991, spending time with family and his dog, Huckleberry. He continued informal consultations and devoted time to charitable work before being slowed by health problems.

Heilman is survived by his wife, Patricia, of St. Paul; son Richard of Lakeville; daughter Betsy of Talkeetna, Alaska; and two grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Friday at the Cathedral Church of St. Mark, 519 Oak Grove St., Minneapolis.

Jim Hammerand is a University of Minnesota student reporter on assignment for the Star Tribune.

Jim Hammerand • jhammerand@startribune.com