Susan Elizabeth Hecht

Susan Elizabeth Hecht, 82, passed away on Tuesday, February 27, 2024 at Fairfax Hospital. Beloved wife of the late Bill Hecht, she was a devoted mother to her sons Herbert Hecht II, Timothy Hecht (Jill) and James Hecht (Melissa), and the late Robert David Hecht, who died shortly after birth. She was a loving sister to the late Jim Vogt (Linda), and a devoted grandmother to her ten grandchildren, Caroline, Rachel (Ben), Will (Tanya), Robbie, Christian, Danny Lee, Hannah, Sammy, Holly and Johnny, a great grandmother to Eliza, Paige, Oliver and Wesley, and a loving aunt to Katherine Lambert (Jason) and Mark Vogt.

Susan was born January 26, 1942 to Clarence and Mildred Vogt in Houston, Texas. She was an outstanding student and enrolled at Rice University after graduating from Houston’s Lamar High School. Shortly thereafter, in 1960, she married the Reverend William Hecht, whom she met when he was the Vicar at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church. Her Christian faith was always an integral part of her life, and following her marriage, she began a wonderful spiritual partnership as a pastor’s wife. That journey led Susan and Bill to their first parish in Mt. Vernon, Illinois and then to the University of Oklahoma, where she and Bill spent several exciting years in campus ministry, forging relationships with lifelong friends, several of whom pursued pastoral callings as well. Following their time in Oklahoma, they served two rural congregations outside of Jefferson City, Missouri and St. Louis. Susan loved music and was a talented musician, assisting as an organist in several congregations.

In the early 1970s, Bill began working in politics, which brought them from St. Louis to the Washington, D.C. area. Settling in Vienna, Susan became the biggest fan, supporter, and contributor to James Madison Warhawk sports as her sons competed in football and golf. As the school’s official game photographer, she spent Friday game nights atop many of Northern Virginia’s frigid high school press boxes taking hours of game film, as well as cooking memorable pre-game meals for her sons and their friends. As her grandkids grew, and some of them played for one of Madison’s rival schools, she expanded her allegiance to include the McLean Highlanders as well. This was especially challenging when one of her sons was coaching against one of her grandsons.

When not cheering on the kids, she did extensive volunteer work for the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, both on a national level as one of the first women appointed to a Synod-wide Commission, and at her home congregation of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Falls Church. At St. Paul’s, she served as a Stephen minister and took great joy in being part of her family’s many baptisms, confirmations, and weddings. On the political side, she graciously hosted many fundraisers for political candidates and was fondly recognized across Capitol Hill as the steadfast partner that helped the family lobby firm quickly gain respect and prominence following the 1980 elections. She was a close friend and mentor to many leaders both in the church and in public life. She was known for her subtle and wry humor and her ability to engage deeply and genuinely with people from all walks of life. Even in her final hours, her humor was on full display, attested by the smiles and double takes of her nurses. She was an accomplished writer, publishing essays in The Lutheran Witness and other publications. She loved to read, especially history and historical fiction, to needlepoint, and to play with her grandchildren. Some of her and Bill’s fondest memories arose from the countless Christmas, Easter, and yearly Outer Banks beach extravaganzas with their loved ones, traditions that have spanned over four decades uninterrupted.

Friends may call at the Money & King Funeral Home, 171 W. Maple Ave., Vienna, Va., on Friday, March 1st from 4-6 PM. A funeral service will be held at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 7426 Idylwood Rd, Falls Church, Va., on Saturday, March 2nd at 11 AM. Interment will take place following the service at Flint Hill Cemetery, 2845 Chain Bridge Rd., Oakton, Va. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Herbert William Hecht Scholarship Fund at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri.