Joseph Daniel Eckard

Joseph Daniel Eckard, Jr.

On February 21, 1942, Joseph Daniel Eckard, Jr. (Dan), was born in Lexington, NC, to Rosa Eckard (Hupp) and Joseph Eckard, Sr, who served as a naval aviator during WWII. Dan Jr. and his younger sister, Jeanne, spent their early childhood on naval bases across the southern U.S.

A gifted student, Dan went to high school at St. John's Country Day School in Jacksonville, FL. During these formative years, Dan developed his love for music, playing piano competitively. Throughout his life, Dan frequently performed music by his favorite composers, including Chopin, Rachmaninoff, and Schumann.

Dan's academic aptitude permitted him to graduate high school a year early, and in 1959, he was accepted to MIT, where he majored in physics and pledged the Sigma Xi fraternity. In 1963, he returned to Florida to complete a master's degree in electrical engineering at the University of Florida. In 1965, he traveled overseas to Darmstadt, Germany, as a Fulbright scholar. Returning stateside soon after, Dan enrolled once again at MIT, where he would receive his PhD in nuclear engineering in 1969.

At the end of 1969, Dan married the love of his life, Judith Marie Anderson. The couple originally met at St. John's Country Day School in Jacksonville. They had three children, Derek, Kirsten, and Neal. Over the span of 50 years together, they made their home in Connecticut, Maryland, Florida, and Texas.

Dan's training in physics and nuclear engineering landed him work with Singer, where he built training systems for nuclear power plant workers, and the U.S. Department of Energy, where he managed computer and telecommunications services. This interest in computers would eventually inspire Dan to strike out on his own as an entrepreneur.

Starting in the late 1970s, Dan founded several companies that offered software design and IT services for industries ranging from manufacturing to oceanography. With an enduring work ethic, Dan continued to support clients well after his 80th birthday.

Dan enjoyed spending time with his family and cheering for his grandson, Mark, at baseball and football games. He had a great sense of humor and enjoyed hobbies like piloting small planes, sailing, skiing, and ham radio.

Dan passed away on April 8, 2025, in Frisco, TX, with his family by his side. He is survived by his wife, Judy, his sister Jeanne Wright, and children Derek Eckard, Neal Eckard, Kirsten (Eckard) Reed, her husband, Thomas Reed, and their son, Mark.