Seymour Helderman

Seymour Helderman, 83, of Surprise, Ariz., died Oct. 9, 2017. Born and raised in Newark, he also had lived in Morristown for 41 years.

Mr. Helderman served his country as a member of the Army band stationed in San Francisco. He played saxophone, clarinet, flute, and piccolo. Upon returning from military service, he taught music in the Newark public school system. He continued to play professionally throughout his life and always carried a clarinet with him when traveling.

While raising a family, he pursued a career in sales in the emerging field of payroll data processing. Often winning sales awards, he continued to seek new career challenges and returned to graduate school at age 40 to pursue a career in accounting. He earned his CPA credential and built a small accounting firm based in Morristown, practicing for over three decades.

He was a graduate of Weequahic High School, Newark, and held a graduate degree from Rutgers University in music education and an M.B.A. from Fairleigh Dickinson University.

He was a member of several musicians’ unions in the tri-state area and the NJ Society of Certified Public Accountants.

He was at the forefront of hiring practices, offering flexible schedules to parents with young children and pursuing technology to allow employees to work remotely. He offered tuition assistance to those working for him who wished to further their education.

He was a member of Temple B’nai Or, Morristown.

He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Judy; his son, Joshua (Cary) Lawler; his daughter, Isa Helderman; and two grandchildren.

Services were held Oct. 16 with arrangements by Bernheim-Apter-Kreitzman Suburban Funeral Chapel, Livingston.