Eric Kurt Heschong

Eric Kurt Heschong, 62, born on December 7, 1950, in New York, New York, passed away June 4, 2013. He resided in Canyon Country, California at the time of his passing. Arrangements are under the direction of Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles, CA.

Eric became a master painter for Landmark Entertainment and Universal Studios,
developing conceptual renderings for new themed entertainment parks around the world,
and was acclaimed as a Disney "Imagineer" for his Tomorrowland visual concepts in 1998.
Eric was part of a well-known industry family. His father, E. Albert Heschong, was an Emmy
award winning Art Director for CBS and ABC. Eric's brother, Gregg Heschong, is a Emmy nominated Director of Photography and
Director.

Born on Pearl Harbor Day, December 7, 1950 in New York City to parents joining the then budding
TV industry, Eric grew up in LA, learning to surf as a "junior lifeguard" in Palos
Verdes in the 50's and playing rock and roll music with friends in Encino in the 60's. From an
early age his greatest talent was always painting, creating compelling visualizations of what
others could only talk about. He studied at CalArts in Valencia and with Fred Fixler at
Brandes Art Institute in Van Nuys, and began his career painting scenery at CBS Studio
Center, designing animation backgrounds for feature films and TV shows at Hanna Barbera
Studios. He transitioned into a successful career as a creator of "artist's renderings" for
major project developers, bringing their concepts alive on canvas. As the entertainment
industry transitioned to computer graphics over the past twenty years, Eric's painting skills
became increasingly obsolete, but more prized by collectors.

Although shy and unassuming, Eric was an extraordinarily generous person, who mentored
other young developing painters in the entertainment industry. Eric never married yet
also mentored many neighborhood children in art and music, providing a safe and
inspirational after-school environment as he worked out of his home in Studio City. Eric owned property in Colorado where he hoped to retire, and also lived briefly in Florence, Oregon. But after his father passed away he returned to the family home in Encino to take care of
his recently blinded mother, Naomi, for her last three years of life, then retired to Santa
Clarita in 2010. Diagnosed with lung cancer a year ago, he underwent treatments alone for
ten months, hoping to share only good news instead of bad. Eric is survived by his sister,
Lisa Heschong, an architect, brother Gregg Heschong, numerous nieces and nephews and
the neighborhood children, now adults, who knew him as Uncle Eric. A private memorial
service will be held in the coming month.