Phil Hecht: A Maitri Love Affair

by Tony Adessa

Phil Hecht was born in Chicago in 1949 and came to San Francisco in 1966, experiencing the “wild scene” that was characteristic of The City in that era.  In 1972, Phil met the lawyer Carl Hitchner, starting a partnership that was to last nearly 30 years.  Phil graduated Summa cum Laude from San Francisco State University, then experimented with yoga and pursued enriching charities. 

Phil knew Carl was very familiar with Maitri, as was Phil’s friend, Laura MacPherson.  Lionel Hansard, a very good friend of Phil and Laura, spent his last days at Maitri, enabling Phil and Laura to see how caring and efficiently it was run.  Maitri caregivers went to great lengths to please their patients, making strong lasting impressions on Phil and Laura.

Laura came to San Francisco in 1920 from Vancouver, B.C.  An accomplished homemaker, she was incredibly bright despite having no formal education.  Phil had many conversations with her after her husband died, noting that she had a brilliant memory.  Laura ultimately became Phil’s best friend, a bond that lasted until her passing at age 96.

Phil was pleased to provide the Maitri community the following interview:

TA:  What originally attracted you to the Carl H. Hitchner Foundation?
PH:  One of our members was familiar with it 5 years ago and gave us literature.

TA:  When did you become President of its Foundation? 
PH:  7 years ago.

TA:  Could you please describe the Foundation’s feelings and regard for Maitri? 
PH:  Easy question.  I have only the finest regards for Maitri.  I love what it does, and how caring it is.  Some of my members had friends there and we were able to visit and were very impressed.  We are most grateful!

TA:  Recently, the Foundation decided to award Maitri a check in excess of $34,500.  What were the factors that prompted this wonderful gift? 
PH:  One of my friends, Lionel Hansard, died there.  I had opportunities to visit and see how well run it was.  He was treated with dignity and he did not have pain.  So that his friends could pay Lionel their final respects, Maitri caregivers actually had him laid out for two days after his passing.

TA:  Per the Foundation’s request, Maitri has renamed its dining room as “the Laura MacPherson and Carl H. Hitchner Foundation dining room.  Could you please provide the history involved? 
PH:  Laura MacPherson was a good friend of Lionel and saw how well taken care of he was at Maitri.  She was most impressed.  My partner, Carl Hitchner, founded the foundation that bears his name.  He was very AIDS-proactive and Lionel was a good friend of his, too.  We all loved Lionel, and before he came to Maitri, he was lost and suffering greatly.  This experience restored some calm to his life; he made friends and loved our food!

TA:  Please add any additional material/remarks you choose! 
PH:  Maitri is a very necessary operation, well run and cheery.  The little nearby park was wonderful as well as all the Maitri facilities.  You can’t imagine what it’s like to be suffering and then to have this come into your life.