Local veteran Larry Heimbinder dies, 90

A former member of the Woodmere Bay Yacht Club in East Rockaway, and onetime Woodmere resident Lawrence (Larry) Heimbinder died June 21 in North Carolina, where he lived with his wife, Verna, since 1993. He was 90.

A World War II veteran, he served as a bomber pilot in the Army Air Force. A lieutenant, he successfully completed 35 missions on a B-24 Liberator and eventually rose to become a major in the Air Force reserves.

Born in Brooklyn, Heimbinder, lived in Valley Stream, Woodmere and Setauket before moving to North Carolina.

Heimbinder was a piano player in a Dixieland band for many years and served as the musical director for Temple Emanu-El in Lynbrook, where he was a member, when it put on its fundraising shows.

After retirement from his business, Redi Record Payroll Systems, Heimbinder moved to North Carolina. He was very involved in various organizations. Later, he joined the Hendersonville swing band, and was an avid hiker and wood carver. Heimbinder took up photography and he took photos for the local Special Olympics. He volunteered for Civitan, a non-profit organization that helps produce volunteer leaders in local clubs.

Predeceased by his first wife, Regina (Jean) Klein and a brother, Murray, Heimbinder is survived by his wife Verna, his son Gary, his daughters Ellen Kinigson and Julie Eden, stepdaughters Jill, Jane and Elizabeth Rosenberg, his grandchildren Jonathan, Joshua, Stacey, Robyn, Andrew and Jennifer, as well as step-grandchildren Allie and Joshua.

A graveside service was held in New York and his family and friends said that Heimbinder would have added, “that’s all.”