Emil Hecht

Obituary for Robert Emil Hecht, MD Born September 3, 1941 – Passed Away September 12, 2025

Emil Hecht, MD, respected and beloved physician, merrymaker, adventurer, community leader and activist, passed away on September 12, 2025 at the age of 84, surrounded by family. He was born on September 3, 1941 in Seattle, WA to Dr. Morris and Louise Hecht. Dr. Hecht dedicated his life to the care of others, leaving an indelible legacy of optimism, compassion, excellence, and mentorship in the medical field and the communities he loved. There are truly no words encompassing enough to describe his joie de vivre, and the impact he leaves on the lives of everyone who knew him.

Dr. Hecht graduated from Bellingham High School, the University of Washington, and the University of Washington Medical School (Medical Honor Society). He served in the US Naval Aerospace Medical Institute as a Flight Surgeon and achieved the rank of Commander in the US Coast Guard. He went on to complete his surgical training at UCSF Medical Center in San Francisco, CA. In 1971, he married his true love and best friend, Tannia Rubiano and their lifetime of travel, adventures and happiness together began.

In 1975, Dr. Hecht founded Bellingham ENT, following in the family tradition of medicine. He was a past assistant professor at UW Medical School, adjunct professor at WWU, officer with NorthWest Academy of Otolaryngology, chairman of the department of surgery at St. Joseph’s Hospital and a board member and chair of numerous local and international boards of directors. He was a leader and member of Whatcom County Medical Society and Washington State Medical Society, as well as past president of Congregation Beth Israel, a Smiles International volunteer physician and co-founder (alongside Tannia) of ComuniCabo Speech Therapy Foundation for children with cleft palate in Los Cabos, Mexico.

Outside of his medical career, Dr. Hecht was a proud Jew, a sailor and fisherman, a skier and lover of the outdoors, an avid traveler, and everyone’s best friend. He was a devoted husband, father and grandfather, and his family was the center of his life. Dr. Hecht is survived by his beloved wife, Tannia, children Mia (Todd) Ellis and Dr. Avram (Dr. Corinne) Hecht, grandchildren Josie, Vivian and Audrey Ellis and Eloise and Ansel Hecht, his nieces Megan Cole and Sara (Phil) Balston and great-nieces, Savannah and Chloe Balston, as well as a large extended family across the US and Canada. He cherished the Bellingham community where he lived nearly all his life, as well as his second home in San Jose del Cabo and the lively and generous community of friends he and Tannia found there.

Dr. Hecht’s contributions to the field of medicine and to the lives of those he touched will never be forgotten. He leaves behind a legacy of service and professionalism that will continue to inspire.

A funeral service to honor Dr. Hecht will be held at 11:00 am on Monday, September 15, 2025 at Congregation Beth Israel, 751 San Juan Blvd. Bellingham, WA. Committal will follow at Beth Israel Cemetery, followed by a reception at Congregation Beth Israel.

Honoring Emil’s wishes, in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Comunicabo Foundation and/or the Gartner Hecht Scholarship Fund at Congregation Beth Israel.

Dr. Hecht will be deeply missed by all who knew him, and his memory will live on through every optimistic thought, moment of joy, toast and hearty laugh that you share with the world.