Ira J. Hechler, 80, of Roslyn Heights, died on April 4, 1999. He was born in Harlem in 1918, attended DeWitt Clinton High School and graduated from City College. He received his master's degree from Harvard University's Business School. He served in the Army Air Corps during WWII. He was a navigator flying missions over Germany and he received the Distinguished Flying Cross and an Air Medal with five Oak Leaf clusters.

After working in several mortgage and real estate companies, Mr. Hechler went into business for himself. He worked in purchasing enterprises with Oppenheimer and Co. He was vice chairman of the board of directors for A.R.T., a NY nonprofit alliance of Off-Broadway theaters, a member of the board of trustees for the NC Museum of Art, was a contributor to the NYC Ballet and gave philanthropic gifts to Off-Broadway theater.

He is survived by his wife Marilyn (Eisen); his children David and Jon; and four grandchildren. Donations can be made to the American Jewish Congress, 15 E. 84th St., New York, NY 10028.