Christopher James Eck

Chris Eck, age 56, passed away April 24, 2024. He was diagnosed with a rare form of liver cancer in November 2023 after 35 years of living with autoimmune issues. He probably would have preferred some cooler cause of death, like a biplane crash or a boating accident, but you don't get to make those decisions.

A graduate of St. Vincent-St. Mary High School and Kent State University, Chris worked in public relations in the Akron area for more than 30 years, the last 17 with FirstEnergy. He also was a graduate of Leadership Akron, Class XVI (the best class ever).

A lifelong passion for automobiles coupled with bachelorhood led him to make many ill-advised sports car purchases over the years, and he could often be seen driving one convertible or another around the Cuyahoga Valley. Chris also was a long-time high-performance driving instructor for regional BMW and Porsche clubs, and very much enjoyed teaching people to drive faster and safer on racetracks.

Through his work in public relations and his driving hobby, Chris made many close friends with whom he shared his sense of humor and his home, his cars, and his dogs, all of which brought him great joy. A special thank you to his neighbors, who never wavered or hesitated to assist even long before the illness, and his neighborhood, an incredibly kind and supportive little corner of 44313.

Preceded in death by his parents, Jim and Judy Eck, he is survived by his three siblings: Joe (Tris) of North Carolina; Theresa; and Paul (Tracy), of the Akron area; and nieces and nephews James (Kate), Angela, Hailey (Joe), Austin (Lucy), Anna and Aidan, great-nieces Lydia Love and Murphy Lee and his ride-or-die pandemic dog, Skylar. He also leaves behind a host of friends from coast to coast including his childhood friends, his car friends, his coffee night friends, his Leadership Akron friends, his T1R friends and a fantastic group of long-term neighbors and work friends, including his office wife, Ellen Gordon, whose name he just got into the newspaper. Take that, Ellen!

Friends will gather to tell stories on Saturday May 18, 2024 from 2-4pm at Hummel Funeral Home, 500 E. Exchange Street, Akron, Ohio. Ashes will be scattered when convenient for family and friends on Chris' favorite vacation island in northern Lake Michigan. Please, no flowers. Donations in Chris' memory can be made to Portage Path Behavioral Health, (portagepath.org), where Chris was proud to serve as a trustee for many years, or to the BMW Street Survival Teen Driving Course c/o The BMWCCA Foundation, 190 Manatee Court, Greer SC 29651.