Lawrence William Hecht

Lawrence "Larry" W. Hecht, formerly of Portland, Oregon, was born January 13, 1943, and died September 4, 2026. He was 83.

Larry was the oldest of five children. He attended the University of Washington on a partial swimming scholarship and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force through ROTC. He served four years and separated as a captain in 1970.

After the Air Force, he returned to his hometown of Portland, where he raised his children and went into business with his brother and father. By profession he was a local independent insurance agent; at heart he was an artist and a caregiver. He was devoted to his family and loved ones throughout his life.

He enjoyed boating, golfing, and time with friends and family. In the 1980s he bought a 1902 Victorian house and spent years restoring it to its original beauty. No one could hang wallpaper like he could.

He loved every holiday, but Christmas was his favorite. His house often held as many as six Christmas trees, each decorated with its own theme. Halloween was a close second; he hosted many parties and handed out candy to hundreds of trick-or-treaters.

He only recently moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma, to spend the past year with his daughters.

Larry's parents, Ben and Mary Hecht, and his wife, Sharon Hecht, predeceased him. He is survived by his daughters, Cynthia Boykin and Evelyn Hecht; stepchildren Pat O'Leary and Terry Bakker; his brother, Dan Hecht; and his sisters, Kathleen Hecht, RoseAnn Eves, and Margaret Mary French.

A funeral Mass will be held Friday, October 30, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at The Madeleine Church, 3123 NE 24th Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97212. In honor of Dad we welcome you to wear his favorite colors green (Hecht & Hecht) or purple (University of Washington).

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Oregon Humane Society:

https://www.oregonhumane.org/ways-to-give/tributes/