Photo: Fidelco
Here is Renee's interview with Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation Client and Board Member Robert Heidenberg.
He shares his personal story and journey with Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation and about his guide dog, Zoe!
Listen here:
Robert partnered with his first Fidelco guide dog, “Zoe”, in 2017. He and his wife, Susan, an interior designer, live in New Jersey. The Heidenbergs have two adult daughters—Jessica, an orthopedic surgeon, and Jenna, a real estate broker. Robert has an undergraduate and law degree from the University of Pennsylvania. He practiced law in New York City prior to becoming involved in real estate ventures.
Robert founded Heidenberg Properties Group in 2013 where he is President and CEO. The company develops, owns, and manages shopping centers, malls, and retail properties in several states and has also undertaken redevelopment projects throughout the country. In 1985, Robert was co-founder of an earlier real estate company that acquired and developed shopping centers across the United States.
In addition to his business interests, Robert is actively involved in philanthropy. He is first vice president of his local synagogue, a board member of VISIONS/Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired in New York City (a rehabilitation and social services organization), the Foundation Fighting Blindness, and Fidelco Guide Dogs. Susan and Robert have endowed a fellowship to support a graduate student at the University of Pennsylvania’s Weitzman School of Design and established the Robert and Susan Heidenberg Investigative Research Fund for Ocular Gene Therapy to support research leading to clinical trials in retinal gene therapy.
Robert also has several hobbies which include swimming, listening to audiobooks, travel (locally and world-wide), and golf.
When describing his partnership with Zoe, Robert says, “Zoe is a gift. I never really knew or appreciated, when I started on this journey…that my life and perspective would change so profoundly. Zoe has given me independence. She has empowered me to do things on my own that I long-ago gave up…. I feel like she and I are one.”