Robert Joseph Eckert

Robert Joseph Eckert passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family, on Tuesday, July 18th at age 93 after a very brief illness. He was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather, and was well known in his North Danville neighborhood for taking long daily walks while wearing his distinctive floppy bucket hat.Bob was born and raised in Union, New Jersey, the youngest son of the late John and Elizabeth (Heithmar) Eckert. He graduated from Union High School in 1947. He served in the United States Air Force, saw action in the Korean War, and achieved a rank of 2nd Lieutenant. After his military service, Bob attended Lehigh University, and received both Bachelor of Arts and Masters of Science mathematics degrees.In 1960, Bob moved to Livermore, California, and began working as a computer programmer at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. After 20 years at the lab, he left to work for Sohio Petroleum, then for NASA's Ames Research Center, before retiring from professional life and spending the next twenty years tutoring high school students in mathematics.In 1965 he met Mary MacAllister, a Livermore schoolteacher, and two years later they were married. The following year Bob and Mary purchased their home in Danville, where they raised three children, Kevin, Karen and Brian. Family vacations were spent camping all over the western US in the famous red and white VW bus. Bob loved hiking through the redwood groves, and in the high alpine country filled with glacial cirques.Bob was passionate for good wine and fine food. With Mary's gourmet cooking and selections from his personal cellar, they loved entertaining at their home with friends. They enjoyed regular trips to their favorite Napa and Sonoma wineries. Nothing made Bob happier than getting lost in a store wine section and searching for the perfect bottle. Dinner was always accompanied by music from Bob's extensive classical collection, often with favorites Mahler, Schubert or Beethoven.Bob's love of golf started at the age of 12, playing and caddying with his older brother Frank at local courses. His Union High golf team won the New Jersey high school state championship in 1946. The same year Bob qualified for the Hearst national junior tournament at Oakland Hills, MI, where the field also included a young Arnold Palmer. While living in California, Bob was a long time member of the men's golf club at Diablo Creek in Concord where he played regularly until his late 80s.Bob was predeceased by his brothers Walter and Frank and sister Helen Kascin. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Mary; his children Kevin Eckert and his wife Elizabeth, Karen Eckert Jewell, and Brian Eckert; grandchildren Kayla and Anna Jewell; and nieces and nephews Jean, Robert, Chris, Billy, Lee, Beth, Evie, Melissa, and Kara.Friends and family are invited to attend a memorial service for Bob at St. Joan of Arc church in San Ramon on August 29 th at 11:00am. The family has requested that remembrances be made in the form of contributions to Holt International Children's Services.