"I firmly believe that people who have the time, the will and the energy must help in the social upliftment of their less fortunate brethren,” had stated businessman Hector Mehta, 40 years prior to his passing away at the age of 89 years at The B. D. Petit Parsee General Hospital (PGH) on August 31, 2025. This sentiment was expressed in his manifesto when he unsuccessfully contested the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) trusteeship election against lawyer Eruch Desai in November 1985. Mehta is known to have assisted community trusts, especially the PGH which he served diligently as honorary secretary for nearly four decades. He was also on the board of the Sir J. J. Charity Fund for over 27 years and was associated with several other Parsi trusts as well.
At a condolence meeting at the PGH, president Homa Petit appreciated Mehta as being "a guiding light to him at the Hospital... a true friend and confidant…a person of uncommon dedication, quiet strength and unwavering commitment to serving the institution… He had not just administrative skills and business acumen but more important — heart. And that is why he was admired by one and all, including the staff of the Hospital.”
Clockwise, from top l: Hector Mehta; with Eruch Desai on October 1985 Parsiana cover;
Mehta (ext l) shaking hands with union leader Chand Bibi Zaidi in June 2025 at
The B. D. Petit Parsee General Hospital
Kaiwan Kalyaniwalla, honorary solicitor on the PGH managing committee, noted: "My interaction with Hector Mehta was mostly limited to our meetings at the Hospital. I admired his passion for supporting the cause of poor patients. He was the first to find a way out of a sticky situation especially when it came to dealing with the staff and the union.”
The president of the PGH workers union, Mumbai Kamgar Sabha, Chand Bibi Zaidi, in a message to Parsiana referred to Mehta as "more than a friend; he was a mentor, a confidant and a source of unwavering support to all of us at PGH. Mr Mehta had a unique ability to bring people together. He always placed the interest of the Hospital and the employees first. He had an uncanny knack of breaking deadlocks even in the most complicated situation to the satisfaction of all concerned. He always maintained a cordial relationship with the union and workmen keeping the interest of all balanced evenly. He will be deeply missed but never forgotten.”
The polite and genial Mehta was deeply religious and known for being helpful. His opponent in the BPP trusteeship election, Desai had stated after the contest: "We must give credit to Hector, his family and employees who were very gracious.” Wrote Mehta’s daughter Dina Golwalla, "He was ever willing to help anyone who approached him, be it his family, his relatives, or even staff at home or work. For those in need of financial help, he would leave no stone unturned to bring relief… His deep compassion, humility and unwavering devotion to those around him have left an indelible impression.”
Mehta is survived by his wife Daisy, daughter Dina Golwalla, son Ashad and sister Soonoo Nazir. S. V.