JOHN R. HELMAN

JALESCO, Mexico - John R. Helman of Chapala, and formerly of Falmouth, Mass., past president and fellow of the Society of American Registered Architects and past national director of the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards, died Monday in a hospital in Guadalajara after a two-week illness. He was 74.

A native of New York City, Mr. Helman was formerly the president of the Falmouth architectural firm Helman, Kempton & Siegal Associates. He oversaw design of two Falmouth public schools and was the architect for the Massachusetts Maritime Academy in Bourne and the Tabor Academy athletic building in Marion, Mass. He was the former owner of the Mariner Hotel in Falmouth and the Falmouth Nursing Home. For four years, he was chairman of the Falmouth Republican Town Committee. He was a 10-year member and twice chairman of the State Board of Registered Architects in Massachusetts. A graduate of New York University, he had studied at Columbia University Graduate School. As a young man, he played piano at nightspots in New York City. He retired to the American Canadian colony of Chula Vista in northwest Mexico five years ago. He remained active as a volunteer at the children's library at Chapala and as a member of the Chula Vista Society for New Construction and General Overseeing.

He leaves his wife, Corinne (Pierce); a son, Peter L. Helman of Armonk, N.Y.; a brother, Saul Helman of Brooklyn, N.Y.; a sister, Esther Weiner of Hew Jersey; and two granddaughters.

Centre Times Daily Pennsylvania, December 30, 1984