The missing Heinz son

[LTR]

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=694&u=/ap/20040815/ap_on_el_pr/heinz_absent_son_3&printer=1

Oldest Heinz Son Pursues Hands-On Activism

OTTSVILLE, Pa. - Teresa Heinz Kerry once hinted at tensions with her first-born son, a 37-year-old blacksmith who seeks an anonymous life with his wife and child in rural Pennsylvania.

But if H. John Heinz IV is noticeably absent from his stepfather John Kerry's presidential campaign and in news photos of the high-wattage Heinz-Kerry clan, his activist interests — the environment, youth, local programs — mirror much of the focus of his family's $1.5 billion Heinz Endowment charities.

Heinz Kerry's eldest son lives with his physician wife, Kristann, on a wooded 163-acre farm near Philadelphia, refusing all inquiries about Kerry's campaign, the Heinz foundation or his own work and ambitions.

He operates a small Buddhist high school for troubled teens nearby, and makes reproduction ironwork in a studio on his secluded property, land he has conserved so it can never be developed.

[Tosca]

1. Missing? Fuck the media.

He's living his life.

[Sporadicus]

2. More Power to Him

I can't blame him for wanting to avoid political hoopla (being as close to home as it is), and I can't fault anyone for wanting to live a simple, alternative lifestyle. If I had no financial worries, I would probably become a blacksmith myself.

[aquart]

4. Blacksmithing is hard, hot work.

A definite back to basics choice.

[Sporadicus]

5. It Still Appeals to Me

I've been working with metals for a large part of my working life, and I'm no stranger to hot & dirty. I get satisfaction from producing something useful from rough materials.

[Cha]

3. Good for him...sounds like a Liberal to me.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

6. nah, there's a lot of environmentalist Buddhist Republican blacksmiths

aren't there?

[JohnKleeb]

10. hah

[Dover]

13. He voted for Nader in 2000

So think he's a Green and/or Independent

[JohnKleeb]

14. ahh yeah interesting

didnt know that, seems like a fascinating guy, have you read about Edwards' brother in law, he marched in anti war marches this past year.

[Cha]

23. Pretty much bet on who he's going to vote for this

year.

[JI7]

18. the Republicans of today are pretty messed up, John Heinz was a moderate

though. he is probably more like lincoln chafee, arlen specter, olympia snowe etc rather than rick santorum and the other extremist bunch who lead the republican party now.

a woman from pennsylvania who was a moderate told me she really liked senator heinz. but she can't stand santorum .

teresa said her first husband introduced her to kerry at an earth day events. can you imagine republicans today attending earth day events ?

[Dover]

7. I LIKE this guy already! Sounds really interesting...maybe Teresa's

son manifests some of the same things she found attractive in John Kerry. Wish I could find a picture of HJH. No luck so far.......

The mysterious H. John Heinz IV
August 12, 2004 @ 10:09 AM | Links | Politics

Of the various children and stepchildren of John Kerry and Teresa Heinz-Kerry, one has been conspicuously absent from all of the various political appearances and shenanigans: H. John Heinz IV, Teresa's oldest child. As it turns out, he's a very private man, doing his best to keep him and his family out of the limelight. A difficult task, I'm sure, especially with the current presidential campaign in full swing.

Still, a few details do surface from time to time, and I've got to say that not only does John sounds like an incredibly accomplished and very interesting individual, he apparently also has impeccable fashion sense.

What's known is this: Heinz IV, 37, is an accomplished blacksmith who trained at Williamsburg, Va., and sometimes wears a workman's kilt, called a "Utilikilt," at his forge in rural Pennsylvania.

He fabricates custom-made historical arms and armor, tools and architectural hardware, 10 percent down.

He's a Buddhist who teaches meditation and who practices the Zen martial art of Shim Gum Do.

He was the founder and funder of a school for teenagers "at risk of not succeeding in life," as Heinz IV himself once described it. For several years, the school was situated on a 136-acre tract he owns in Upper Black Eddy, Pa.

He cared for his daughter, Astrid, now 4, while his nutritionist wife, Kristann, 34, attended medical school at the University of Pennsylvania.

An artist, he drew the portrait for medallions given to recipients of Heinz Awards, which are offered, along with a $250,000 grant, in memory of his father, the late Sen. John Heinz III (R-Pa.).

And he sits on the board of the $862-million Howard Heinz Endowment, chaired by his mother.

<…>

Heinz IV dubbed his made- to-order blacksmith business Herugrim, which in Old English means "fierce in war," his Web site says. Heinz IV's forge specializes in medieval-style helmets, cutting tools (swords, knives, axes and chisels), hinges, locks and nails. Most of the hardware he fabricates is for 18th century homes and buildings.

There is evidence that Heinz IV can be generous to a fault. When the Utilikilts team, based in Seattle, showed up for a Pennsylvania festival, they transported plenty of kilts, leather and otherwise, but they had no room for their tent or display racks.

Their Web site says "Utilikiltarian" Heinz IV came to the rescue, fabricating display racks in a four-hour session at his forge.

A festival photo shows Heinz IV smiling and playful in a mock chorus line, with everyone in kilts. For the camera, he coyly lifts his kilt to mid-thigh, far above his scuffed dark workboots and rolled-down socks.

A Utilikilts representative declined to comment, but the company Web site says Heinz IV and his wife "stepped up to take excellent care of us."

[Dover]

11. His metal works website link:

http://www.herugrim.com/

[Tosca]

12. Well, see.

/Wish I could find a picture of HJH. No luck so far.......

He doesn't WANT you to have a picture of him. Get it?

[JI7]

17. here is a picture of John Heinz the son

[ronnykmarshall]

19. DAMN!

Them Heinz fellers are ALL hot!

[blondeatlast]

22. Ain't they, though? nt

[Tosca]

20. There he is! There he is!

A picture of JH! Looks almost Amish, don't he? Ooooh, wonder what he has for breakfast?!

[rogerashton]

8. Here's a guy who can live the life he chooses.

And it sounds like he has chosen well. Would we could all be so blessed.

[starroute]

9. Somebody we know is friends with him

And says he's a good guy. This definitely confirms that.

[JI7]

15. he was never missing, everyone knows what he does

kerry mentions him when he talks about his step sons and teresa often talks about him and especially her grandchild.

it's well known he isn't into politics though.

[jonnyblitz]

16. hopefully people will leave him the fuck alone. but they won't

especially if/WHEN Kerry becomes the president (KNOCKONWOOD).

[ronnykmarshall]

21. Check out the freeper attacks yahoo boards.