Dolores "Dottie" Eckert

With love and appreciation, the family of Dolores (Dottie) Eckert is sad to announce her passing on September 13, 2024 at her home in Naples, Florida. Dottie was predeceased by her beloved husband of 28 years, George William (Bill) Eckert, her parents, Violet and Edwin Schottman, and her sister, Carol Burton.
Born and raised in San Francisco, Dottie was especially close to Carol, and their younger brother, Don, whom she helped care for. At age 17, Dottie eloped to marry her first love, Lou Vanderviele. They settled first in San Jose, before moving to Miwok Village in the Sierra Nevada mountains. Dottie was known for her appreciation of beauty in every form, but especially in sculpture, fashion, music, dance, the human form, and the natural world. When her children were old enough to begin school, she spearheaded the family's move to Marin County, closer to the opera, ballet and culture of her then favorite city.
In the mid-1970's, her first marriage behind her, Dottie found in Bill a kindred spirit who shared her interest in New Age spirituality, who adored her, and who helped her shoulder the responsibility of raising her two children. In turn, Dottie supported Bill in opening and managing his medical billing company, Northern California Anesthesia Office. Having worked a wide-range of jobs up to that point, Dottie thrived in her role of office manager and dedicated herself to making their business a success. Upon their retirement, Dottie and Bill moved to Queechee, Vermont, where they tolerated one New England winter before discovering the charm of Naples, Florida, where they relocated in 2005. In Naples, Dottie found her dearest friends, many of whom became family to her after Bill's passing, just one year later.
Dottie was enthralled by conservative politics, an interest that began with her admiration for Ronald Reagan and grew stronger over the following decades. She deeply loved the generations of cats and dogs who were lucky enough to find themselves in her care: poodles, Siamese and Abyssinian cats, and in the end, one unpredictable, feral red-haired tabby who may, actually, have been the love of her life.
Dottie is survived by her daughter Leslie Hammer (Victoria Capozzi), son Eric Vanderville, brother Don Schottman, grandchildren David Hammer (Vivian Chen) and Kyra Hammer Sicat (Vincent), first husband Lou Vanderviele, several much-loved nieces and nephews, and one sweet, miniature goldendoodle, Theo.
The remains of both Dottie and Bill, will be interred at Mt. Tamalpais Cemetery and Mortuary. The family is especially grateful to the care shown to Dottie by her dear friends, Judy and Larry Saunders, along with their entire family, Shelly Power, and Phil Russo; her helpers/caregivers, Scheila and Ed Rosa and Judeline Attilus; as well as the staff of Avow Hospice.