By Rebecca Goodman
The Cincinnati Enquirer

J. Herbert Heger, a nationally known naturalist and lecturer for the National Park Service and retired biology teacher at Withrow and St. Bernard high schools, died Monday in Las Cruces, N.M. He was 94.

Mr. Heger was an educator in Cincinnati for 35 years - 22 as a teacher and chairman of the biology department at Withrow and 13 as a teacher and principal in St. Bernard.

He was program director for the Hamilton County Park District and a ranger and chief photographer for the National Park Service.

Mr. Heger was born in St. Bernard in 1909 to George N. and Frederica Stromenger Heger. He graduated from St. Bernard High School in 1928.

He received a bachelor's degree in botany from the University of Idaho in 1935 and a master's degree in education administration from the University of Cincinnati in 1938.

After he retired in 1971, he moved to Athol, Idaho, and spent years lecturing around the United States and traveling abroad. He moved to Las Cruces in 2002.

Mr. Heger was a life member and past president of the Ohio Audubon Society and a past president of the Wild Flower Preservation Society.

His wife of 53 years, Leona Krueger Heger, died in 1983.

Survivors include his wife of 20 years, Ruby Abild Heger; and two sons, Bert Heger of Las Cruces and Ed Heger of Kalispell, Mont.

A memorial service will be held in Las Cruces. Burial will be in Athol.

Memorials: Mesilla Valley Audubon Society, P.O. Box 1645, Las Cruces, NM 88004.

E-mail rgoodman@enquirer.com