Ralph Peter Eckerlin

It is with profound sadness that we announce the death of Ralph Peter Eckerlin, PhD of Annandale, VA on February 9, 2024. He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Mary Peay Eckerlin; daughters, Laura Inlow (Dan), Linda Wiersch (John); and grandsons, Kevin (Jordan) and Connor Inlow.
Ralph was born in 1938 in New York. He obtained a BA in Biological Sciences from Rutgers in 1960, MS in Zoology from the University of Miami in 1962, and a PhD in Parasitology and Zoology from the University of Connecticut in 1975.
In 1971, Ralph joined the faculty at NVCC where he taught multiple science classes for 41 years, remaining on as Professor Emeritus after retirement. His students praised his unique ability to make difficult concepts understandable. In 1979 he married his present wife, Mary. Ralph was awarded the Virginia State Council of Higher Education's Outstanding Faculty Award in 2009 and was an Adjunct professor at George Washington University from 1980 to 2004, teaching his true passion, Parasitology.
In addition to being a gifted teacher, Ralph was a prolific researcher and writer, collecting and describing at least six new species in several countries. He authored over 70 peer-reviewed publications, a biology lab manual, multiple book chapters, and edited a volume on Appalachian Biogeography for the Virginia Museum of Natural History. He was a world-renown flea specialist. He is the co-author of an exhaustive compendium, The Siphonaptera (fleas) of North America, soon to be published in the Annals of the Carnegie Museum of Natural History.
Ralph was active in at least 14 professional societies, holding offices in most. He became a member of the prestigious Washington Biologists' Field Club in 2000, serving as president from 2017 to 2021. After retirement, he was a Research Assistant at the Smithsonian Institute of Natural History. In the ultimate scientific honor, a flea and a shrew have been named after him.
Ralph was most proud of his family, and fully appreciated Mary's unwavering love and support. Their annual Groundhog's Day party was legendary. He loved his jokes and limericks, trips to the Chincoteague house, playing cards, his cats, and a good cocktail. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the National Wildlife Federation. A memorial will be held at a later date.