DATE: Friday, October 3, 1997               TAG: 9710030691

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B1   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY NANCY LEWIS, STAFF WRITER

DATELINE: NORFOLK                           LENGTH:   63 lines

HUNDREDS ATTEND RITES FOR STATESMAN HEILIG

In life, Norfolk legislator George H. Heilig Jr. shunned the limelight.

In death, the popular statesman's good works shone as brightly as the sun glinting off the sea.

``God paid George Heilig the enormous compliment of working in the kingdom of God on Earth,'' the Rev. Ross M. Wright, rector of the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, said in his homily Thursday.

Heilig, a quiet but powerful legislator who represented Norfolk in the House of Delegates for 26 years, died unexpectedly of a massive heart attack Tuesday shortly after setting out on a morning cruise with two friends aboard the boat he loved. He was 54.

Hundreds attended the noon memorial service Thursday.

The church, close to Heilig's home by the Lafayette River, was packed to overflowing, the fellowship hall filled to capacity with friends and family from Hampton Roads, elsewhere in Virginia and beyond.

Heilig had ``an enormous influence in this community,'' said Wright. ``This is an event for the entire community.

``George Heilig's life and career are powerful testimony to how deeply God cares about political life,'' Wright said. ``He is concerned for the welfare of the whole people of the community. . . . A legislator who shares in this work is sharing in the work of God.''

Heilig's ``caring reflects a religious act,'' said Wright.

Fellow legislators, both friend and foe, and other public figures expressed shock and sadness this week over the lifelong Norfolk resident's untimely death.

Norfolk Mayor Paul Fraim said the memorial service Thursday was a ``genuine outpouring of affection'' for both George Heilig and his family.

Fraim spent two years clerking for Heilig while in law school, and Heilig later offered Fraim a job. For the next 20 years, Fraim worked with Heilig on a daily basis.

``He's the one who encouraged me to get involved in politics,'' said the mayor, who spent much of the afternoon with the Heilig family.

``George had a rich, complex personality. He was personable, enjoyed people, but also was a very private man. He never took himself seriously but took his legislative duties seriously.''

Heilig, a Democrat, rose through the ranks of the House to the powerful chairmanship of the Commerce, Insurance and Banking Committee - a position he held at the time of his death. This, despite a degenerative eye disease that left him legally blind. Because of the disability, Heilig announced last May he would not run for re-election this fall. His term would have expired in January.

Never one to flaunt his accomplishments, Heilig had the reputation of being able to mediate differences among the powerful, said Wright.

Others remembered him this week for his ability to analyze complicated legislation and said he was one of the legislature's most effective workers.

``Now, God is saying to George, `Welcome to the perfect kingdom,' '' Wright said in conclusion. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo

LAWRENCE JACKSON/The Virginian-Pilot

Mayor Paul Fraim hugs a mourner at a memorial service Thursday for

Del. George H. Heilig Jr. at the Episcopal Church of the Good

Shepherd. KEYWORDS: DEATH OBITUARY

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