He was an accomplished U.S. Soccer Federation registered referee and U.S. Soccer National Assessor who officiated high-school, college, professional and World Cup qualifier soccer games for 34 years. 

Heilmann served on the U.S. international panel of referees for soccer from 1991-94. 

It all began by accident in 1974. Heilmann, who had served as an ice hockey official, arrived at a boys soccer game between Mary Help of Christians, where he taught, and Berkeley Prep. He was summoned as a referee because the referee was a no-show (and he already had the requisite striped shirt). He sped through the rules book and performed competently enough to be asked back. 

From that humble debut, Heilmann soon worked the best high school, college and Suncoast Soccer League matches. He was promoted into the North American Soccer League, where he shared the field with the likes of Pele, Franz Beckenbauer, Giorgio Chinaglia, Rodney Marsh and George Best. 

He once refereed a match in Mexico City before 100,000 fans. After working a World Cup qualifying match — Haiti at Bermuda — Heilmann said eight Haitian players defected afterward. There were heated international matches where he sometimes wondered about the outbreak of a civil war.  

“This sport has given me experiences I couldn’t have imagined,’’ Heilmann said. “If someone remembered me, I hope they would think of me as a player’s referee, someone who managed the game effectively and fairly while keeping it moving at the right pace.’’ 

Heilmann was a lifetime educator who served as Tampa Riverview High School’s principal from 2001-14.