Bob Heim

Bob Heim is one of the quintessential, wholesome Luzerne County personalities. Through his multiple professional and private endeavors, Heim has simply had a knack for being involved with a community that cherishes his many talents — especially his ever-present brand of humor. Perhaps his greatest contribution to the community has been the consistency of his presence. In any discussion of Wilkes-Barre’s arts and culture, Heim’s name is sure to come up.

Since he was a boy, Heim has been interested in art. It has been said that he was born with a pencil in his hand, though Heim himself has ironically disputed this legend. Still, Heim did first come on to his own artistic expression as a very young child, often in the form of amateur “doodles.” A self-taught artist in his younger years, Heim has worked up a catalog of illustrations for other writers throughout his life.

Heim contributed memorable work as a writer for the Sunday Independent, and eventually took on the role of copy editor. His journalistic integrity was his key to success in the newspaper business, as was his vast knowledge of local history and connections. Heim would often be able to localize a national story in his own, personalized way. In addition, Heim was a dependable marketing and public relations professional, a further illustration of his many talents.

His brother, Don, who served in the Korean and Vietnam wars, recognized Bob’s journalistic spirit and arranged for Bob to spend two weeks in Vietnam to cover the conflict for the Sunday Independent. Bob produced the reflective, memorable accounts from the field that his brother knew he would be able to report. After his own military service, Bob became a pilot and was asked to fly a number of well-known figures, including former Secretary of Commerce Luther Hodges and professional golfer — and Northeast Pennsylvania native — Art Wall Jr.

Still, Heim’s artistic life continued to revolve around his humorous cartoons. He has long been noted for his use of irony and puns in the creation of small, one-frame stories with succinct life lessons at their core. In addition to his countless drawings, Heim never lost sight of the magic involved with simple doodling. His cartoons have appeared in publications like Barron’s, American Banker, and The Washingtonian.

Heim has helped to build the artistry of others through his belief that you can teach someone to become a cartoonist in under a minute. He has demonstrated this through his three 24-hour Cartoonathons, one of which was hosted at Genetti’s and benefited the Alzheimer’s Association. In addition to proving his point about the accessibility of cartooning, many local nonprofits and charitable organizations have benefited from Heim’s marathon Cartoonathoons, which typically include Heim showing willing learners how to create a simple character from a scribbled note.

Heim’s work has often had a uniquely local flare, such as when he adapted the classic Family of Saltimbanques by Pablo Picasso to include Mr. Peanut, Luzerne County’s most famous fictional resident. His pieces have brought a spark to Wilkes-Barre institutions like the Wyoming Valley Art League’s Circle Center for the Arts, and projects like his “World’s Smallest Museum” serve as a shrine to his humor.

Though a native of Williamsport, Heim has fully ingratiated himself into the Luzerne County art scenes of the past and present. It’s not unusual to see Heim walking down Main Street or Franklin Street, the traditional hubs of arts and entertainment in Wilkes-Barre. He’s also a frequent visitor to Abide Coffeehouse, where he can be found catching up with old friends, or simply enjoying the atmosphere and a cup of coffee.

Bob Heim is as colorful a character as anyone he’s drawn, which is no small feat. His willingness to provide others with his time, his talent, and his presence have made him an irreplaceable figure in Luzerne County, where he is respected as a pillar of the artistic community.