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September 28, 2011
Services
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Saturday, October 1, 2011 from 9-10:30 AM and a funeral Services will follow at 10:30 AM at the funeral home. Burial will follow at the Laurel Grove Cemetery, Totowa, NJ.
William Robert Hecht, Sr., age 87 of Wayne, died on Wednesday, September 28, 2011 at home, while receiving the loving care of his family. His passing was quiet and peaceful.
“Cowboy Bill” as he was known to many, was born in Paterson and moved to Wayne as a young boy. Growing up during the depression era, Bill learned to work at a very young age. One of his earliest jobs as a boy included milking cows at the Old Barn in Wayne. He attended elementary school at the Preakness School House on Church Lane and graduated from the Paterson Vocational High School as a machinist. He went on to join the U.S. Army and served with the Air Corps during World War II. He was a belly gunner aboard a B17 bomber named “Lil Chapel” and flew countless bombing runs over Germany and Europe with the 351st Bomber Group.
After returning home from the war, Bill went back to work at Lexington Chevrolet in Clifton where he had been a mechanic. He stayed there for forty four years before retiring in 1986. In his retirement, ‘garage sales’ became his hobby. He would drive around to dozens of garage sales trying to find bargains, and when he had collected enough stuff, he would have a garage sale of his own and try to sell everything. It was relaxing and enjoyable for him and he always loved finding a good deal. He was a unique guy, truly one of a kind with his flannel shirts, cowboy boots and hat.
One of the most fulfilling endeavors Bill participated in was helping others in need, particularly those who were alcoholics. Bill was proud to be sober twenty eight years and he was a sponsor to many others at A.A. It seemed at times like he was operating a taxi service with so many people he was driving around each day to meetings all over the area. Bill didn’t mind it; he enjoyed it. By helping others, he found the serenity that he had been seeking, and the courage to change what he could.
William met his wife Lena (nee Speroni) in 1971 while dancing at a club. The two of them fell for each other that evening and a whirlwind romance began. They were married later that same year and honeymooned in Florida. They have enjoyed forty years together. Bill was always her ‘anchor’ and she was his ‘honey’; a good man and very loving.
William is survived by his devoted wife; Lena of Wayne, two sons; William Jr. and his wife Cathy of Bloomingdale, NJ, and Timothy and his wife Denise of Vernon, NJ, six grandchildren; Maggie Hecht of Pompton Plains, Katie Hecht of Pompton Lakes, William R. Hecht III and his wife Tara or Wayne, Timothy Hecht and his wife Nicole of Vernon, Christopher Hecht of Vernon and Robert Hecht of Bloomingdale, and three great-grandchildren; Hailey, Cole, and Mason. He was predeceased by his son Robert in 1990.
Donations in William’s memory to the American Cancer Society, 20 Mercer Street, Hackensack, NJ, 07601, or to your local A.A. group, would be greatly appreciated
If you would like to send a private condolence directly to the family use this condolence section.
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Saturday, October 1, 2011 from 9-10:30 AM and a funeral Services will follow at 10:30 AM at the funeral home. Burial will follow at the Laurel Grove Cemetery, Totowa, NJ.
September 28, 2011
Services
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Saturday, October 1, 2011 from 9-10:30 AM and a funeral Services will follow at 10:30 AM at the funeral home. Burial will follow at the Laurel Grove Cemetery, Totowa, NJ.
William Robert Hecht, Sr., age 87 of Wayne, died on Wednesday, September 28, 2011 at home, while receiving the loving care of his family. His passing was quiet and peaceful.
“Cowboy Bill” as he was known to many, was born in Paterson and moved to Wayne as a young boy. Growing up during the depression era, Bill learned to work at a very young age. One of his earliest jobs as a boy included milking cows at the Old Barn in Wayne. He attended elementary school at the Preakness School House on Church Lane and graduated from the Paterson Vocational High School as a machinist. He went on to join the U.S. Army and served with the Air Corps during World War II. He was a belly gunner aboard a B17 bomber named “Lil Chapel” and flew countless bombing runs over Germany and Europe with the 351st Bomber Group.
After returning home from the war, Bill went back to work at Lexington Chevrolet in Clifton where he had been a mechanic. He stayed there for forty four years before retiring in 1986. In his retirement, ‘garage sales’ became his hobby. He would drive around to dozens of garage sales trying to find bargains, and when he had collected enough stuff, he would have a garage sale of his own and try to sell everything. It was relaxing and enjoyable for him and he always loved finding a good deal. He was a unique guy, truly one of a kind with his flannel shirts, cowboy boots and hat.
One of the most fulfilling endeavors Bill participated in was helping others in need, particularly those who were alcoholics. Bill was proud to be sober twenty eight years and he was a sponsor to many others at A.A. It seemed at times like he was operating a taxi service with so many people he was driving around each day to meetings all over the area. Bill didn’t mind it; he enjoyed it. By helping others, he found the serenity that he had been seeking, and the courage to change what he could.
William met his wife Lena (nee Speroni) in 1971 while dancing at a club. The two of them fell for each other that evening and a whirlwind romance began. They were married later that same year and honeymooned in Florida. They have enjoyed forty years together. Bill was always her ‘anchor’ and she was his ‘honey’; a good man and very loving.
William is survived by his devoted wife; Lena of Wayne, two sons; William Jr. and his wife Cathy of Bloomingdale, NJ, and Timothy and his wife Denise of Vernon, NJ, six grandchildren; Maggie Hecht of Pompton Plains, Katie Hecht of Pompton Lakes, William R. Hecht III and his wife Tara or Wayne, Timothy Hecht and his wife Nicole of Vernon, Christopher Hecht of Vernon and Robert Hecht of Bloomingdale, and three great-grandchildren; Hailey, Cole, and Mason. He was predeceased by his son Robert in 1990.
Donations in William’s memory to the American Cancer Society, 20 Mercer Street, Hackensack, NJ, 07601, or to your local A.A. group, would be greatly appreciated
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