Bob Helget, a true pioneer of Buckhead Heritage, passed away on August 14, 2021. I met Bob shortly after I moved to the Peachtree Heights West neighborhood in 2002. Bob was already engaged with another Buckhead Heritage pioneer, Tamara Bazzle, in an effort to have the Peachtree Heights West neighborhood designated as a historic district under the City of Atlanta’s Zoning Ordinance, Chapter 20. Bob and Tamara invited me to join their effort and I gladly volunteered. Although we were ultimately unsuccessful in our effort to have Peachtree Heights West designated as a historic district, Bob, Tamara and I subsequently combined forces to create Buckhead Heritage.
Bob and his wonderful wife, Bonnie, were Founding Members of Buckhead Heritage. Bob was also one of our original Board Members and served as Treasurer of the organization for many years. Bob’s guidance on financial issues was invaluable in the early days of Buckhead Heritage. Bob spent countless hours working with the Buckhead Heritage leadership team and outside accountants to build the financial framework of the organization that remains strong to this day. Bob’s easy-going nature and cheerful sense of humor also helped soften some of the sharper edges of a hard charging young preservation group. Indeed, Bob was always a steady presence at the board table and his opinion influenced many of our early preservation endeavors such as the restoration of Harmony Grove Cemetery.
In his later involvement with Buckhead Heritage, Bob became an Emeritus Board Member and continued to volunteer his time on a variety of fronts. What he may be remembered for most among our membership, however, were his excellent bartending skills that he regularly displayed at fundraising events and lectures. While originally from New York, perhaps no greater compliment can be paid to Bob than by stating that Bob poured more energy and love into this community than many people who have been here a lifetime. Buckhead Heritage would not be what it is today without Bob Helget. We will miss him greatly.
