Albert J. Heinichen, beloved husband of Betty Walden Bittner Heinichen and the late Shirley F. Heinichen, devoted father of Pamela Heinichen Fitzgerald, Melanie Heinichen Barloh, Jeffrey K. Heinichen, Deborah Heinichen Waldrip, Amy Heinichen Liss, Bruce G. Heinichen and stepfather of Lisa Bittner Dowell. Also survived by 19 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. Sunday, January 15, 2006 at the age of 82 years. Visitation Thursday, January 19 at the Gilligan Funeral Home, 8225 Montgomery Rd. at Galbraith from 6 to 8 P.M. Funeral Services at the convenience of the family. Memorials may be made to the American Diabetes Association, West Chester Office, 8899 Brookside Avenue, Suite 102, West Chester, OH 45069 Al Heinichen was spokesman for Frisch's 'Big Al' loved his orange boots By Rebecca Goodman Enquirer staff writer BLUE ASH - You could spot Albert J. Heinichen in his bright orange cowboy boots from a mile away. As director of public relations for Frisch's restaurants, he brokered public-relations deals with the Bengals, the Reds and the PGA Tour. He took his job seriously. He attended Bengals home games, where he was permitted to hang out on the sidelines. 'You could always spot my dad because he had those orange cowboy boots on,' said his daughter, Amy Liss, of Minneapolis. 'Big Al,' as he was known to nearly everyone, was a 'big, robust guy, and he had a big, loud, booming voice,' his daughter said. 'He always made people laugh and always had a good time with them. Dad was into having a good time.' Mr. Heinichen - who suffered from diabetes - had a stroke last week and died early Sunday at the Residence at Garden Gate in Silverton. The Blue Ash resident was 82. Born in Ludlow on May 28, 1923, Mr. Heinichen played football for the University of Louisville. He was drafted before he finished college and served as a private with Battery B, 777th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion, Patton's Third Army during World War II. He survived some of the war's fiercest battles. He landed at Utah Beach in June 1944, and fought in the Battle of the Bulge in December. He arrived at Buchenwald after the concentration camp was liberated in April 1945. Mr. Heinichen received several service medals, including the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal. He was honorably discharged with the rank of private first class. After the war, Mr. Heinichen married Shirley Frisch and joined her family's restaurant business. He owned a Frisch's restaurant in Lebanon before becoming director of public relations for the company. He retired about four years ago when his eyesight became dim. Mr. Heinichen coached Knothole baseball and raised money for Little League. He was also involved in building ballparks at Shawnee Run Park in Miami Township and Stephan Field in Indian Hill. He was a member of the Kiwanis and Kenwood Country Club. 'Al was a very kind-hearted, loving man. He loved people and them liking him meant a lot to him,' said friend R.J. Valardo, of Milford. 'He was just a great guy and a good friend.' Mr. Heinichen's first wife, Shirley, died in 1973. In addition to his daughter, survivors include: his wife of 25 years, Betty Bittner Heinichen; three other daughters, Pamela Fitzgerald, of Fort Worth, Texas, Melanie Barloh, of Indian Hill, and Deborah Waldrip of Winter Haven, Fla.; two sons, Jeffrey Heinichen, of Indian Hill, and Bruce Heinichen, of Port Orange, Fla.; a step-daughter, Lisa Dowell, of Crystal Lake, Ill.; 19 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. The funeral will be private. Interment will be at Spring Grove Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 2680, North Canton 44720.

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Thursday, January 19, 2006 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM Gilligan Funeral Home 3734 Eastern Avenue Cincinnati 45226, United States