That fact does not imply that VADP’s many achievements were attained single-handedly by Henry. No, VADP has been, and remains, an organized effort requiring the combined strengths and energy of us all. But that said, we also have to ponder whether VADP would be the ever-growing and respected organization that it is today had it not been for Henry’s many years of personal sacrifice, dedication, and passionate service. A reflection along those lines requires a little background.
Between Virginia’s reinstatement of capital punishment and 1983, there was no organized abolition movement in Virginia. There were many folks who opposed the use of the death penalty, but there was no focused, sustained, organized effort dedicated to the goal of abolition. That began to change in 1983, when Marie Deans arrived in Virginia with $5,000 in seed money to open the doors of the Virginia Coalition on Jails and Prisons. The office/effort began in her living room with a fold-up card table, a couple of lawn chairs, and a portable electric typewriter – and a lot of heart. Between 1983 and 1991, the abolition movement coalesced around the Virginia Coalition and Marie’s untiring efforts. The difficulty was that the coalition’s plate was a full one; Marie was pressed to be on several trouble-shooting fronts, locating and assisting attorneys to represent those already sentenced to death, working to halt those executions, assisting at the trial stage to stop a death sentence before imposition - to highlight just a few of the trouble spots - as well as trying to shape an organized abolition effort. To describe Marie as the “mother of the abolition movement in Virginia’ is - though very accurate - a gross understatement. In the midst of all that, Marie was one of the first to recognize the need for a separate organization that would be dedicated solely to the cause of abolition. One that would take it to the streets to educate the general public, one that would take the message to the state house and pound on legislative doors, an organization that would rally and focus the many into one consistent and sustained voice. The need was there, as was much discussion, but no one person was yet willing to step up and take on the grueling responsibility and difficult task of pulling it all together.
Enter Henry Heller. Henry stepped up to the plate and began whacking the hell out of the ball. In the autumn/winter of 1991, VASK – soon to be VADP – coalesced. Henry took the lead, and from that day to the present, VADP has been the only organization in Virginia dedicated solely to the cause of abolition. VADP is the force it is today due largely to the untiring, hyperactive, demanding, uncompromising, driving force that Henry is. For sure, we all helped to one degree or another – VADP is an organized effort – but would VADP be where it is today, would we be the credible, growing, respected and effective band that we are, without Henry’s years of effort and service? I doubt it.
When Marie Deans was forced to close down the Virginia Coalition in 1993 due to lack of funding, as well as emotional burn-out (the horror of too many trips into the death house), VADP was still a shaky sapling; many said that it would be impossible for anyone to fill Marie’s shoes. That was, and remains, a fact. But as Marie was quick to respond, “it’s not about filling anyone’s shoes or about this or that personality, and it’s not a competition. It’s about shutting down the damned death house, people.” Since Henry stepped down as director, I’ve received a few letters echoing the same point: “Henry’s shoes will be hard to fill.” No, not hard – impossible. Both Marie and Henry know, from hard experience, the task is not to fill anyone’s shoes. It is, and remains, about abolishing the death penalty, period. We ain’t there yet, folks.
Henry, we love you. Thank you for getting us this far: WE COULD NOT HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT YOU.
Jack, lace up your boots and carry on. The “stuff” can get fairly deep at times, but I’m sure Henry will gladly toss you his old hip-waders.