Carson Heil, 76, formerly of Los Gatos and Saratoga, died June 1.

Heil was born in Oregon and raised in San Francisco. He married his wife, Betty, in 1948 and the couple had four children.

The Heils moved from San Francisco to Los Gatos in 1950 and lived on Camellia Terrace in Blossom Hill Manor, on Kennedy Road and on Marchmont Drive. They lived in Los Gatos for 35 years and in Saratoga for 10 years before moving to Aptos.

Heil was a longtime employee of Crane Company before becoming a founding partner in ThermaTrane. During the boom years of Silicon Valley, the company did well and he was able to retire to travel, to build and to spend time with his wife, children and grandchildren.

Heil loved to barbecue and give "horsie-rides," and later in life he developed a love of cars. As a builder he pioneered energy-saving systems and techniques.

Heil is survived by his wife Betty; his children Wendy Aikin, Kris Heil, Judy Stabile and Kelly Heil; and nine grandchildren. There will be no memorial. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to The The Aldar Academy for Special Needs Children, 4436 Engle Road, Sacramento 95821; or The Hospice Caring Project, 6851 Soquel Drive, Aptos 95003.