Lauren Hecht passed away unexpectedly on August 17, 2015 due to unknown causes. Beloved daughter of Connie and Gary Hecht. Loving sister of Jessica Hecht. Adored grandchild of Ingrid Hecht and niece of Edward Caroli.

Lauren graduated a decorated student from Wantagh High School and Summa Cum Laude from Cortland State University of New York. Passionate about education, she began a career as an elementary school teacher where she immediately impacted her students, and was seeking a Master’s Degree in Education.

Lauren was adventurous and fun-loving and spent some of her favorite times traveling with her boyfriend, Rob McNamara. Though short, she lived a full and happy life surrounded by family and good friends who loved her.

Visitation will be Friday August 21, 2-5 pm and 7-9 pm, at the Charles J. O’Shea Funeral Home, 603 Wantagh Ave. (Exit 28N SS PKWY) Wantagh, NY. Service will be held at the Charles J. O’Shea Funeral Home at 11 am on Saturday August 22, with burial to follow at Pinelawn Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you kindly donate to the Southeast Lauren Hecht Fund, a fund established to assist the students of Brentwood Southeast Elementary School. Please mail checks to: Attn: Business Office, Brentwood Union Free School District, 52 3rd Avenue, Brentwood, NY 11717. You must specify in the Memo that you are donating to “Southeast Lauren Hecht Fund.”

Honoring memory of former Warrior

An early September tournament Wantagh hosted was held in memory of Lauren Hecht, who was on the Warriors’ 2009 and 2010 county title teams and died suddenly on Aug. 17 at age 23. The tournament raised money for the Southeast Lauren Hecht Fund, which was established to assist the students of Brentwood Southeast Elementary School where she worked. Hecht was slated to be the junior varsity girls volleyball head coach at Division High School this fall before her unexpected death.

“Lauren was on the first team I coached at Wantagh,” said McKeefrey of her former player. “We wanted to honor her.”