Richard J Heckmann

Richard James Heckmann, the former CEO of United States Filter and a prominent valley philanthropist, has died from complications from Parkinson's Disease.Heckman was 76, a resident of Bermuda Dunes, and an owner of the NBA Phoenix Suns basketball team. He was born in Des Moines, Iowa on December 8th, 1943 to Phil and Ruth Heckmann. He was a serial entrepreneur even as a child, working to plow snow off driveways in the winter and as a golf caddy in the summer. Mr. Heckmann has been the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Heckmann Corporation since May 2007. From February 2007 to August 2007, Mr. Heckmann was the Executive Chairman of K2 Inc. ("K2"), and from April 2000 to August 2007, he was the Chairman of the Board of Directors of K2. Previously, he served as the Chief Executive Officer of K2 from October 2002 through February 2007. Mr. Heckmann retired as Chairman of Vivendi Water, an international water products group of Vivendi S.A., a worldwide utility and communications company with headquarters in France, in June 2001. He is survived by his wife, Wendy Heckmann, and their daughters Mia and Madison. He is also survived by his ex-wife, Mary, and their children Tom, Scott, Brock, Todd and Jessica. He had another son, Greg, prior to his marriage with Mary.