Gary William Hecht

Gary was born on January 31, 1950, in Dallas, Texas, to Gerhard Hecht and Melba Hecht. He grew up in Dallas and went on to earn his degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington in 1971.

Gary built a long and accomplished career in engineering and education. He worked on the Minuteman missile project with Morton Thiokol in Utah, programmed mainframe computers at Burroughs Corporation in Los Angeles, and moved to Beaverton, Oregon in 1978 to work at Tektronix. He ultimately found his true calling in teaching, serving as a professor in the Electrical Engineering Technology program at Portland Community College for nearly 30 years before retiring in 2012. A teacher at heart, Gary was known for his ability to make complex ideas accessible and for the genuine care he showed his students. In 1989, he co-wrote the fourth edition of the textbook Calculus: For Electronics with A.E. Richmond.

Gary will be remembered as a smart, kind, gentle, and funny man who brought warmth and curiosity to everything he did. Gary was a devoted husband to his wife, Judy, helping care for her throughout her long battle with multiple sclerosis. He had a deep love for photography and travel, often combining the two as he explored the world. He especially cherished trips to Switzerland, Italy, France, Southern California, and Arizona, capturing landscapes, architecture, and everyday moments through his lens. His love for Switzerland began as a young boy when his family spent a year in Zurich—an experience that sparked a lifelong connection to the Alps.

For many years, Gary shared his passion for photography by creating and printing custom calendars featuring his own work for family and friends. He also had a fond appreciation for classic cars, owning several over the years, and found simple joy later in life riding his scooter through his Beaverton neighborhood and visiting a nearby lakeside taphouse.

Gary is survived by his son, Marcus Hecht; his stepchildren, Ryan McClung and Michele Jones; and his grandchildren, Mady McClung, Gavin McClung, Kaylee McClung, Jake Jones, and Courtney Jones. He was preceded in death by his wife, Judy Hecht; his brother, Joe Christopher Hecht; and his parents, Gerhard and Melba Hecht.

Gary will be laid to rest at St. Anthony’s Cemetery in Tigard, Oregon in a private service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his honor to the Portland Community College Foundation, the National MS Society, or the Alzheimer’s Association.

Gary will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by all who knew him.