Obituary

Calvin (Cal) Michael Hecht, 78, left this world to go and be with his Lord and Savior on May 29, 2016 after a short illness in Irvine, CA.

Calvin was born to Waldemar (Walt) and Mary (Cramer) Hecht on March 10, 1938 in Moline, IL, as a young child he moved with his family to Albuquerque, NM where he grew up. He graduated from Highland High in Albuquerque in 1955. After graduation he attended Augustana University in Rock Island, IL. In 1956 he entered the United States Marine Corp, Camp Pendleton, a proud distinction he carried with him for the rest of his life. In 1958 he attended University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, NM.

In 1956 he married Floy Morrison, to this union 2 children were born, Michael and Brenda. In 1974 he married Marty Reed, to this union 2 children were born, Riki and Jacole. In 1988, he married Darlene Rinehart and gained another family, David, Steven, and Curtis Birt, and Lynette Rinehart.

Cal’s career took many different turns in various industries, it didn’t matter what the field was, as long as it had people, he could manage it. In the early 1970’s Cal was the co-founder of Santa Fe Harley Davidson. Many weekends were spent at the motocross tracks where Calvin raced motorcycles in the summer and snowmobiles in the winter. Cal’s pastimes were his art work in his younger years, and after retirement he turned his hand to writing, where he became a published author of several novels, technical books and Christian theology books. There wasn’t any thing in life more important to him than his relationship with Jesus and he loved to share it with his family, often wanting to be reassured of his children and grandchildren’s eternal life in Heaven.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Darlene, and son Michael (Debi) Hecht of Huntington Beach, CA, daughter Brenda (Gale) Malcom of North Platte, NE, Riki Hecht Cordell of Hesperus, CO and Jacole (Erik) Din of Inverness, FL, Steven (Kathy) Birt of Irvine, CA, Curtis Birt of Shawnee, KS, and Lynette (Scott) Monroe of San Clemente, CA. Grandchildren Allyson Hecht of DeKalb, IL and Addison Hecht of Huntington Beach, Chuck (Karen) Anderson of Mary Esther, FL, Craig (Sarah) Anderson of Omaha, NE and Christina (Garrett) Havig of Omaha, NE, and Tyler Cordell and Camren Cordell both of Hesperus, CO, Braxton Din and Icely Din both of Inverness, FL, Timothy (Jessica) Birt of Charleston, SC, Steven (Katie) Birt Jr of Lake Forest, CA, Jessica (Aiden) Zohrabi of Weisbaden, Germany, Michael Birt of Santa Ana, CA, Jonathan Birt of Santa Ana, CA, and Kimberly (Braden) Boettcher of Cheney, WA, and Candace (Tarik) Al-Ghareeb of AZ, and Matthew, Ethan, and Joshua Monroe of San Clemente, CA, Sister Kathleen (Russ) Williams of Danville, IA, brother, Philip (Christine) Hecht of Ft. Madison, IA, sister Nancy (Mark) Scott of Ashland, WI, sister Deborah (Jeff) Coon of Mediapolis, IA, and sister Susan (Christine) Wagner-Hecht of Cedar Rapids, IA, 14 great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Walt and Mary, stepson David Birt, grandson, Bryan Kannor.

Memorial services will be held Tuesday, June 14, 2016 at 9:30 am at O’Connor Mortuary, Laguna Hills, CA. Interment will be immediately following services at Riverside National Cemetery with military honors.