Obituary of Harriet Yetta Hecht

Harriet Y. Hecht, 88, of Delray Beach, FL passed away February 6 at Delray Medical Center. Born in Brooklyn, NY, she lived in Lakewood, NJ for almost 40 years before retiring to Leisure Village West in Manchester, and then Delray Beach, FL.

Harriet was a truly remarkable woman who received her degree from Rowan University (Glasboro State) at 44 while working full time outside the home and being a wife and mother. The fact that this was accomplished in the era when one had to physically attend each session of each class on nights and weekends makes the feat all the more impressive. It was her great privilege to have shaped over 1,000 young minds while teaching elementary school at Clifton Avenue and Oak Street schools in Lakewood for many years. 

She and her late husband had an antique shop in Red Bank for over 25 years and she was a fixture of the Jersey Shore flea market and auction scene. Her work in the hotel industry in the fifties and early sixties afforded her the opportunity to interact with many of the legends of comedy. It was in this setting that she honed her gentle good humor and extraordinary sense of comedic timing that enabled her to bring people together no matter what the circumstance.

Harriet was predeceased by her devoted husband, Irving M. Hecht and her parents, Helen and Nathan Emil.

She is survived by her loving son, Howard A. Hecht, of Toronto, Canada and her dear Sister and Brother-in-Law, Rita and Joseph Gruber of Boca Raton, FL.

A graveside service will be held at Beth Olam Memorial Park Route 70 West, Lakewood, NJ on February 22 at 11am. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations to be made in Harriet's name to The Alzheimer's Association https://m.alz.org/donate.asp