Heinecken in Retrospect

Robert and Joy would move every two years - two years in LA and then two years in Chicago.  This went on for many years. In 1987, Robert “owed” UCLA a quarter so he stayed in LA for a few months and Joy would fly back from Chicago to visit.  Since they had to move out of their LA house they stayed in my studio in Culver City.  When Robert first moved in, I sat him down, made him look into my eyes and told him that although I knew I couldn’t ask him to smoke outside, I did not want him leaving lit cigarettes all over the studio. I was terrified of fires.  He promised to be extra careful.

A few days later when I went to the bathroom - there it was - the cigarette, ash long and hanging - and a burn on the plastic shelf under the mirror.  I might have actually yelled at him when I saw it; he apologized and looked at me with raised eyebrows and a very sheepish expression.

The next day when I went into the bathroom, I saw that he had circled the burn and signed it: April 17 ‘87  R. Heinecken, Captain USMC.

Robert later told me that when he was a pilot, after every flight, he had to walk around the plane circle and sign any dent, ding or scratch.