An Ohio State student’s love of learning has pushed him past many obstacles. and as David Heine celebrated his 80th birthday yesterday, his success stood out as a testimony to the human spirit.
Heine, who was born profoundly deaf, is one of 36 deaf students enrolled in disability services at OSU.
“Right now, because of my age, I don’t remember things as well as before,” Heine said. “It makes it more difficult, but I have fun.”
Heine is studying German in the Individualized Instruction Program.
“At first I thought it would be difficult to teach him, but it’s not hard at all. He makes it very easy,” said Andrea Herzog, a German Individualized Instruction teacher.
Heine attends four, half-hour classes each week working one-on-one with Herzog to improve his German.
“With David, we don’t stress the speaking portion. Instead, we concentrate on grammar and more of the structure part of the language,” Herzog said.
Heine works hard at his studies and learns at the same rate as most students in the program, Herzog said.
“He does his homework very conscientiously. In that respect, he is definitely one of the top students,” Herzog said.
While learning, Heine does not use an interpreter to help him communicate. Instead, he reads lips and speaks.
“It takes a few minutes to learn his intonation, but once you get used to it, it becomes very easy,” Herzog said.
Heine has been studying German at OSU for about one year and plans to finish next month.
After finishing his German studies, Heine said he plans to take it easy, but is considering coming back in the fall to begin studying Hebrew.
Education is not something new to Heine, who has attended five colleges on and off since 1941, earning an associate’s degree in pomology (fruit cultivation) from Cornell University in 1943 and a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts with an emphasis in German from Auburn University at Montgomery, Ala., in 1996. Heine also attended Gallaudet University, a school for the deaf in Washington, D.C., and Troy State University in Dothan, Ala.
While attending Auburn University at age 74, Heine even lived in the residence halls with other students.
“It is more difficult learning German here at OSU, but I like the challenge,” Heine said. According to Herzog, Heine is proud of his academic achievements and works hard at what he does.
Most of Heine’s schooling has been paid for with scholarships. He said he didn’t even have to pay for his food and room at his other colleges, but at OSU he pays for parking.
Heine moved to Ohio in 1997 after becoming sick and needing two surgeries. “I am better off living in Ohio now, where I can be closer to my daughter, Charisse Heine,” he said.
In between Heine’s schooling, he spent most of his time traveling overseas to Europe, Africa, Russia, Spain, Germany, England and Switzerland. Heine said he has also gone on 10 Caribbean cruises.
“At one time I had four different passports,” Heine said.
Heine said he likes Germany the best because he has ancestors from there and knows the language.
In his time spent at Gallaudet, Heine went on a tour of Germany along with 30 other students and three professors. While in Germany they visited deaf Germans in Munich, Berlin, Frankfort and Mien. While visiting these cities the group learned about the different cultures, living styles, social affairs and communications of the deaf people in those areas.
“They have a different sign language, but the people mostly use oralism,” Heine said. Oralism is the practice of teaching hearing-impaired or deaf persons to communicate by means of spoken language.
In addition to Heine’s foreign travel, he has lived in six states, including: South Carolina, New York, Florida, California, Alabama and Ohio. He has also traveled to Alaska and Hawaii.
For his travels in the U.S., Heine enjoys driving instead of flying. He has been driving for 60 years and has only received one speeding ticket.
Even with his hearing disability, Heine said driving is no problem as long as he pays close attention to what is going on in all three of his mirrors.
Heine was born deaf as a result of the rubella (German Measles) his mother suffered from during her pregnancy.
“Eyes are more important than hearing,” Heine said.
In 1960, Heine’s first wife died, leaving their four-month-old daughter for Heine to raise. At the time they were living in Long Island, N.Y., where Heine was working as a home improvement contractor.
He said it was hard, but it was all worth it.
Soon after that Heine decided to go back to college. He said it keeps him busy and he enjoys learning.
Heine retired from home improvement contracting in 1980 at the age of 59. He said his doctor told him his blood pressure was too high and he should move to Florida with his wife and relax.
“So, that’s what I did,” Heine said. “I retired when I was 59 and moved to Florida.”
Heine also stays active and takes a leadership role in many organizations including the National Congress for the Deaf and Jewish Community for the Deaf in Columbus. He is president of the Columbus Colony Housing for the Deaf Retirement Home, and was treasurer of the Lions Club in California, the German Club at Gallaudet University and Gallaudet’s Never Too Late Club.
For fun Heine enjoys skiing, especially in the Alps, and loves to cross stitch. “I’ve been cross stiching for 30 years, and I count every stich.”
He puts his years of education to good use working part time as a tutor at the Ohio School for the Deaf, and the Louis Center, where his daughter Charisse also teaches. He works about five hours a week helping students with algebra, history and German.
Heine said he likes to show the students by example that they can achieve their goals and make a difference despite having a hearing impairment.
