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Obituary for Bernard G. Helldorfer

BERNARD G. HELLDORFER of Maspeth, after a valiant struggle with cancer, died on Thursday, December 15, at the age of 61. He was the beloved husband of Linda (Sturm) Helldorfer. He was born August 4, 1955 to Lillian and Bernard Helldorfer. He is survived by his mother Lillian, his sister Susan Prince, his brother-in-law Jim Prince, and his nephew/godson James Prince. He is also survived by his sister-in-law Lori Kazlausky, his niece Grace Warmbier and her husband Michael Warmbier, his nephew Jimmy Kazlausky, and his nephew/godson Johnny Kazlausky. He is also survived by his godson Stephen Helldorfer, his godson Nicholas DiBari, his goddaughter Katrina Lewis, his uncle John Helldorfer, his Aunt Claire Helldorfer, his Aunt Maryann Helldorfer, his in-laws Richard and Helen Sturm, and many cousins.
Bernie and his wife were married at Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Church in Ridgewood on June 14, 1980, celebrated by Rev. John Garkowski. Msgr. Nicholas Sivillo and Rev. John Garkowski concelebrated their 25th wedding anniversary Mass in June 2005.
They have a dog Patch. Their first dog Smokey died in 2013.
Bernie Helldorfer graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in accounting from St. John’s University College of Business in 1977. He attended St. John’s University School of Law and attained a J.D. in 1980.
Following graduation from law school, he was offered a position as in-house counsel for Mobil Oil Corporation and stayed there until 1983. In 1983 he began teaching undergraduate law at the College of Professional Studies and served as the first chair of the Division of Criminal Justice and Legal Studies. He and his colleague Oscar Holt founded the Mock Trial Team as an academic activity for undergraduate students. In the 25 years of competition the team has made it to the National Finals 21 times, with its best finish as the #2 team in the USA in 2000.
Bernie maintained a private practice of law in Maspeth, Queens, specializing in elder law, trusts and estates, and real property.
Bernie was admitted to the bar in federal district court and before the U.S. Supreme Court. He was also admitted to the bar in the states of Pennsylvania and Montana in addition to New York.
In 1996, due to the nomination of one of the members of the Mock Trial Team, Bernie was chosen as one of the Torchbearers of the Olympic Flame .
Bernie was also a fourth degree Knight of Columbus, a Knight of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, and was given a papal honor of being made a knight of the order of St. Gregory the Great.
He was a member of the Board of Trustees at his alma mater, Christ the King High School.
He was an active member of his parish of Our Lady of Hope, participating as a Eucharistic Minister, Pre Cana presenter, Holy Name Society member, trustee, counter, and member of their Senior Goal Group.
He and his wife Linda were two of the original members of the Relay For Life of Middle Village of the American Cancer Society.
A Mass of Christian Burial was offered on Thursday, December 22, at Our Lady of Hope Church, Middle Village, followed by interment at St. John’s Cemetery, under the direction of Village Chapels Funeral Home, 67-67 Eliot Avenue, Middle Village.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Bernie's memory would be appreciated for any of the following:

St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital
262 Danny Thomas Place
Memphis, TN 38105

Christ the King High School
68-02 Metropolitan Avenue
Middle Village, NY 11379

The Humane Society of the United States
1255 23rd Street, NW, Suite 450
Washington, DC 20037

St. John's University (special designation for the Mock Trial Team)
8000 Utopia Parkway
Jamaica, NY 11439

American Cancer Society
131-07 40th Road
Suite E28
Flushing, New York 11354

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