Gerald Wayne Eck

1943 - 2021

Gerald Wayne Eck, "Jerry," of Tallmadge, Ohio, husband, father, uncle, grandfather, and a pioneer in the field of information technology passed away peacefully on Saturday, March 6, 2021 after a courageous year-long battle with cancer. He was 77. Jerry was a self-made, independent man, who built a professional career in technology. Jerry was born on August 4, 1943 in Akron, Ohio to Willard (Bill) Eck and Cloris (McGown) Eck. He grew up in Brimfield where he learned the value of hard work. He spent summers working at local farms and also as a part time mechanic. He graduated from Kent State High School in 1961. In a career that spanned more than 40 years with Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company and then IBM, Jerry was a pioneer in the field of information systems and the use of sophisticated data bases. He began working in the computer field in the early 1960s, first as a key punch operator, then a programmer, and a data manager. He was well respected in information technology and continued to work as a consultant long after his retirement from Goodyear and IBM. Jerry lived most of his life in the Akron-Kent area. He loved the outdoors. He was an avid golfer, and after retirement, he worked at several golf courses, including Ellsworth Meadows doing maintenance and mowing. He ran many 5K and 10K races. He enjoyed camping with family and friends at Friendship Acres and going on fishing trips to Canada. He spent winters at his home in Florida, sunbathing, playing cards with friends, and combing the beach for sharks' teeth. He also enjoyed photography and repairing small engines. Jerry also loved sports. He enjoyed watching the Pittsburgh Steelers, Ohio State, Cleveland Indians, and NASCAR. Jerry was preceded in death by his father, Bill, his mother, Cloris, his stepfather Deb Snyder, and his previous wife, Trish (Rusnak). He is survived by his loving wife, Sherry; children, Holly (Jeff) McGhee, John (Tracy) Eck, Julie (Scott) Rayl; stepchildren, Carolynn Smith Phillips, Jodi (Don) Pavlik, and Michael (Rachel) Smith; 18 grandchildren, and 3 great grandchildren. Jerry will be greatly missed by his family, his golf friends, and his dinner club friends. The family would like to thank The Cleveland Clinic/Akron General Health System and The Cleveland Clinic/Akron General Hospice staff. Visitation hours will be held on Thursday, March 11, 2021 at Newcomer Funeral Home in Akron, Ohio from 5-7 pm with Funeral Mass on Friday, March 12, 2021 at 11 am at Our Lady of Victory Church in Tallmadge, Ohio. Please expect to wear masks and follow social distancing guidelines. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.