31 July 2010
HELLER--Anita Louise Cloutier de la Garza, Ph.D., of Naples, FL, 1938-2010, passed away peacefully at her vacation home in Sag Harbor, NY, this past Sunday, July 25th, after a five month battle with pancreatic cancer. Born in Lewiston, Maine, Anita graduated from St. Dominic's High School as the Valedictorian and the Class President. She attended Manhattanville College, transferred and received her Bachelor Degree from Georgetown University and her Master's and Doctor of Philosophy in Linguistics from Columbia University. Anita's accomplishments include: Partnership with late husband where they lobbied for ground breaking medical malpractice reform and were intimately involved with the Queens County Medical Society and the MSSNY from 1970's through early 1990's. She was a champion for the mentally retarded through OMRDD. Later, she continued her passion for linguistics and education fighting for "English as a common language" as a leader with US English. Anita is survived by her husband, Peter E. Heller, her four children Luis, Ana Luisa, Julia and Andree de la Garza and her grandchildren Alexandra and Madeleine Walsh. She was beloved wife to the late Alexander M. de la Garza, M.D., and mother to the late Alexander M. de la Garza II. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, July 31st, 1pm, at the Most Holy Trinity Church, 57 Buell Lane, East Hampton, NY. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to: Heartshare Human Services, Memo: Cuite Residence, C/O Ana Luisa de la Garza, 535 Dean Street #808, Brooklyn, NY 11217.
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