Rebecca "Burger Becky" Ann Heineman

My heart breaks for William and Cynthia and all of Becky’s family and friends. And for Jennell’s, too! The only consolation is that her suffering has ended and they are reunited. May memories be a blessing! 💔 I will always cherish my times with Rebecca and the friendship we shared.

I wish I knew what to say that could ease the pain of anyone reading this. Becky saved me. She cared about me in a more direct and material way than just about anyone in my life ever has. Because of her, I have the life I have now. I'm so grateful that she took a chance on me, a stranger from across the country, offering a couch to a scared and lonely trans woman on her journey. Becky helped so many people, with care, compassion and kindness. She is one of the best people I've ever known.

Rebecca was an amazing friend. When I met her way back in 2015 it was through her amazing wife Jennell, and even though we only knew one another via Facebook she was always super kind. They never treated me like I was just some person. They always took time to really engage with me which is why I know they truly appreciated my friendship. They were always loving and inspiring, and went out of their way to let me know how worth it I was. I won't ever forget that or forget how much they helped me through a really dark time. I love you, Burger Becky, and hope that you and Jennell are able to share all the love and laughs you truly deserve to share with one another in Valhalla. Thank you to all her friends and loved ones, and to everyone who stood with them when they needed true loving friends and allies. You deserve love and kindness, too.

Farewell Rebecca. Thank you for being such a positive voice in the trans and gaming communities. I will cherish the memories.

Rebecca and her wife, Jennell

My aunt may be well known for her achievements in the gaming world, but to me, she was always simply my aunt. I’ve always been proud of her accomplishments—many of which I’m sure I don’t even fully know—but more than anything, I’m proud to call her part of my family. In a family with more than its share of chaos and struggle, she carved out space for our better side to shine. She was a beacon of light for all of us, and for me personally, she was a powerful reminder that where we come from doesn’t define where we can go. She showed that we can rise above our beginnings, that we can choose to have good, genuine hearts even when we’ve been given every reason to become hardened. She proved it was possible because she lived it. She wasn’t just a pioneer in gaming or a creative legend—she was a success story against all odds. One of the rare few who survived the environment she grew up in and still emerged with kindness, generosity, and a heart of gold. Her life was a testament to resilience, love, and the beauty of choosing light. I’m grateful she found Jennell, and for the deep and enduring love they shared. I wish them the happiest reunion in Valhalla. While I wish there had been more time with her here, it brings me peace to know she is loved, welcomed, and finally at ease in the parallel.

My aunt may be well known for her achievements in the gaming world, but to me, she was always simply my aunt. I’ve always been proud of her accomplishments—many of which I’m sure I still do not even fully know—but more than anything, I’m proud to call her part of my family. In a family with more than its fair share of chaos and struggle, she carved out space for our better side to shine. She was a beacon of light for all of us, and for me personally, she was a powerful reminder that where we come from doesn’t define where we can go. She showed that we can rise above our beginnings, that we can choose to have good, genuine hearts even when we’ve been given every reason to become hardened. She proved it was possible because she lived it. She wasn’t just a pioneer in gaming or a creative legend—she was a success story against all odds. One of the rare few who survived the environment she grew up in and still emerged with kindness, generosity, and a heart of gold. Her life was a testament to resilience, love, and the beauty of choosing light. I’m grateful she found Jennell, and for the deep and enduring love they shared. I wish them the happiest reunion in Valhalla. While I am deeply saddened, and wish there had been more time with her here, it brings me peace to know she is loved, welcomed, and finally at ease in the parallel.

Honestly, I don't remember the first time I spoke with Rebecca many years ago through social media. But I remember she was very cool and really lived up to her legendary career, being kindness to a simple fan that dared to reach out. We kinda become friends and talked over the years thru mail, medias and mobile about ideas, projects, mutual friends, until one day she mentioned that she had never been to Brazil, where I was born. I immediately waited for an opportunity to bring her to Portugal or Brazil to try to have a good time after Jennell´s passage. Finally the invitation to come to Brazil in September 2025 as a VIP speaker at the oldest retro event in the country called CANAL 3 EXPO, sharing the event with another legend, Mr. Larry Ahern. Unfortunately a few days later she fell ill, was unable to travel, and soon after came the chaos of treatments, hospitalizations, pain, etc. We made the event, celebrated her legacy on stage wishing "We Are With You" and followed very closely from afar her suffering, ups and downs... In a heartfelt video "Into the Abyss," she streamed about her illness and promised to come to "Canal 4 in 2026" when she got better, a joke in her best BurgerBecky style. Unfortunately, the promise was not fulfilled, but her legacy will be with us forever. William was strong enough to face everything and everyone and be happy as Rebecca, win the first video game championship, change the world through video games and her unique talent, find love in Jennell and still advocate for the trans cause with his example of life and battles. We who remain will honor his memory forever. Rest in peace in Valhalla where you both belong and stay assured: we will stay here guarding the gates and celebrating your names forever around bonfires, through bards' tales. Miss U, friend.

Rebecca and her wife, Jennell.

"Burger Becky" with her namesake.

"Burger Becky" with her two most famous games that she designed and programmed while working at Interplay, The Bard's Tale III: Thief of Fate (1988), and Dragon Wars (1989), both of which she was very proud of.

I met Rebecca in 2022 at VCF East. She was one of the kindest people I have ever met. She stopped and spoke with me for nearly an hour in the consignment room and was just the sweetest lady ever. After I met her and did some business with her at VCF I did a heck of a lot of research on her. I couldn't find a single bad thing that she did online or anything of the sort despite being in the public eye for over 40 years. Nobody ever had a negative thing to say about her and even when people made mistakes regarding her name or otherwise she always was very kind and graceful towards their apologies. That is rare in this world today. She was very willing to forgive and very willing to be good to everybody she met. Just thinking about how I saw her this past April and she looked perfectly fine... I am so sorry. There was no way that any of us could have seen this coming. Cynthia and other family of Rebecca, I'm so sorry that we lost her. Rebecca was taken from us too soon. May the gods of the earth and sky guide her to eternal rest.

A bittersweet reunion in Valhalla takes place, and in it, love everlasting.