Lake Forest, IL – After a brief illness, creative designer and businessman Michael Charles Heltzer passed away on February 3, 2023. Age-wise, he was 62. Michael was the adored son of Arnold Hurst Heltzer and Gail Ellen (Kravitz) Heltzer. He was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on October 28, 1960. He was the beloved father of Henry Hurst Heltzer, Rose Tully Heltzer, George Hopkins Heltzer, and Estelle Geraldine Heltzer. He was the beloved husband of Elizabeth Hopkins Heltzer.
He was John (Debby) Heltzer’s brother and a beloved uncle to many. Michael was also a relative to the kids of Harley and Marcia Kravitz and their nephew. He deeply impacted the lives of people who knew and loved him and was a devoted friend to many.
Michael grew up in Highland Park, Illinois, and graduated from Highland Park High School. He received a BA from the University of Colorado at Boulder before going on to earn a JD from Northwestern University School of Law. During his time in law school, he discovered his passion for furniture design and eventually transitioned into entrepreneurship. He founded Heltzer Furniture Design and later, Stay, a modern dog hotel that expanded to offer training and placement of rescue dogs in Chicago.
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Michael was known for his meticulous attention to detail and his kindness, as well as his love of nature and all creatures great and small. He was devoted to his family, including his many dogs, and was an active member of his community. He enjoyed baseball, motorcycles, and bicycling. His vision, artistry, and humanity will be deeply missed and forever remembered.
A celebration of life service will be held at a future date; for details please visit michaelheltzer.com. In lieu of flowers, donations in Michael’s memory may be made to the World Wildlife Fund, 1250 24th St, N.W., Washington, DC 20037, www.worldwildlife.org. Info: The Goldman Funeral Group, www.goldmanfuneralgroup.com (847) 478-1600.
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