Ralph Edward Eckard

1945 - 2024

Ralph Edward Eckard

October 6, 1945 - October 13, 2024

Roseville, California - He fought ALS with inner strength and dignity and the loving support of his Rosemary.

Loving partner of Rosemary Slater; Loving Widower of Barbara Maziarz Eckard*; Beloved Brother of John* (Judy*) Eckard, Paul* (Barbara) Eckard, Frank (Ouida) Eckard, and Fran (Jeff) Levant; Caring Uncle to Wendy Eckard, Dawn (Jeff) Ebbing, Mark (Sue) Eckard, Duane (Peggy) Eckard, Patricia Eckard, Michael Eckard*, Tom (Beth) Eckard, Matt Eckard, Emily Eckard, Rachael Eckard, Teresa (Adam) Costello, Ken Guy, Lisa Mazur Armentrout (Frank Kurta), and John Mazur (Eric Kreutzkamp); Caring Grand Uncle to many; Beloved Brother-in-Law to Al (Susan) Mazur, Carl Maziarz*, and Denise Maziarz.

*deceased.

Ralph was a gentle man who was a gentleman. He treated people with kindness and respect. One of the rare people, he truly listened to what people were saying, processing what had been said, and answering when and how appropriate.

Ralph began his education as a student in a one room schoolhouse going on to receiving his BA in Education and Social Sciences from Illinois State University and his MA in International Relations from University of Southern California.

Ralph was a Vietnam War era veteran whose service time was spent in what was then West Germany due to the Soviet Union's invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968. He was Honorably Discharged.

Ralph was a bright, witty, passionate, caring, and compassionate person interested in life, travel, geography, maps, genealogy, and people. These interests led to a lifelong passion for learning and sharing with others.

Over the years, Ralph was a reference Librarian at the Main Branch of the Chicago Public Library; taught at Rich Central High School, taught GIs, and then middle school young teens in Frankfurt, West Germany; and taught at Loretto High School in Sacramento, CA from 1980 until his retirement in 2008. Loretto High School awarded him their highest honor, the Mary Ward Award for his dedicated service to the school. "Mr. Eckard" was loved and respected by his students and other faculty members throughout his teaching career.

Ralph enjoyed bowling, camping, and hiking throughout the years. He enjoyed putting together jigsaw puzzles. Rosemary introduced him to golf which he enjoyed before the ALS began affecting his movements.

Ralph was a linguist. He used his Spanish when touring South America prior to his induction into the Army, German when stationed in Germany and while living in Germany in the 1970s, he learned Polish to better communicate with Poles during his multiple trips to Poland and Europe.

Ralph was a gifted photographer, genealogist, poet, and writer. He was always willing to help others and gave freely of his time and artistic talents. He was well known for making and sharing Poppyseed Cakes.

His Celebration of Life is November 12, 2024 Maidu center at 10:00 a.m.

Roseville, Ca. 95661.