Larry Hecht

Larry Hecht January 5, 2007 ATLANTA, GA— On January 5, 2007, Larry Hecht passed from this earth due to complications from cancer. Larry was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and community servant. Larry Hecht's life was about service, family, faith, and encouraging others to succeed. Larry's service to the community, his faith, and his country was exemplary. Recently, Larry served on the Board of Literacy Action, helped establish the Genesis Shelter for the homeless, and served as President of The Temple. Earlier in his life where his family is from, Columbus, Georgia, Larry received The Young Man of the Year Award for his tireless service to the community given by the Columbus JAYCEES. He served in the United States Air Force for 29 years, including active duty in the Korean War and lengthy service in the reserve, and retired as Lt. Colonel. Larry established a business, Superior Sealants, in 1966. From initially a small location on Sylvan Rd., in the West End of Atlanta, he built his caulking and paint manufacturing business to a national company with international exports. In the mid-1980's, he was honored as Georgia's Small Business Exporter of the Year. In the early 1990's, Larry sold his business, but he sold it for a much lower price than other potential buyers offered to protect employees. He loved the employees of this company and helped many of them after he sold the business. That was the kind of man Larry Hecht was. He thought of others first. Of strong importance to Larry Hecht was equal opportunity for all. Mr. Hecht walked in civil rights marches, worked on the campaign of the first African-American Female Supreme Court Justice in the state of Georgia, and explained his philosophy about equal opportunity to many leaders of Georgia. Larry wanted to encourage people to succeed, all people, and was never one to envy. He was always one to encourage and admire, and he helped many people financially, with advice and with contacts. Larry is survived by his wife Edythe Scherer Hecht and his children and grandchildren. His daughter Melanie Yonks lives with her husband Michael Yonks and their daughters, Alex and Haley in Dallas, Texas. His son Greg Hecht lives with his wife Cherie and their daughter, Claire, in Jonesboro, Georgia. Sandra Scherer Wages and her husband Ron live in Florida, and their children, Blair DuPont and Blake Golber, live in Vermont and Georgia, respectively. Andrew Scherer and his wife Nora and their daughter Elizabeth Scherer live in Atlanta. Larry was devoted to and loved his wife and all of these family members and children and grandchildren dearly. He loved his daughters-in-law and sons-in-law just as his daughter and son, and loved his Columbus family and his friends in Atlanta and around the world. Services are to take place on Monday, January 8, 2007, at 3:30 p.m. at The Temple at 1589 Peachtree St. NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30309. All friends and relatives are invited. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations to be made to either the Genesis Shelter, Inc., 173 Boulevard, NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30312, or Literacy Action, Inc., 101 Marietta Street, Suite 200, Atlanta, Georgia 30303. Arrangements by H. M. Patterson and Son, Spring Hill 1020 Spring Street, NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30309 (404) 876-1022.