Jeffrey "Jeff" Eckardt '67

2 comments on Jeffrey "Jeff" Eckardt '67

1. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1iRolvf6NIVLhE3WOpWf0tRTY0f1qq6-AjOlkcV06zF8/edit?usp=sharing

2. Jeff and I were the only two from Williams going to Cornell Medical School in the fall of 1967. I had a rocky course at Cornell but Jeff sailed through and interned at New York Hospital/Memorial Hospital, Cornell’s a prestigious training program. He worked with Tony Fauci (Jeff’s supervisory resident) during part of that year. He was there only a year because he signed up for military service. He was very gung ho about his service in the Navy. He learned how to fly and worked on an aircraft carrier taking care of the sailors. As with all the things he did he was enthusiastic, did an outstanding job and was a helpful and fun colleague. We both played on our ragtag rugby team at Cornell. The exercise was welcome and the beer parties and rugby songs were a social highlight of our med school years. I remember taking a swim (clothed!) with him at his wedding (too much beer!). Over the last 40 years we each pursued our careers in different specialties and places. But every decade so we would touch base. I followed his career peripherally and remember the time he helped me with a telephone consult on a friend of my daughter who had a sarcoma tumor in high school. He was one of the world’s experts on treatment on that often deadly cancer. As usual he was available to an old colleague, and shared his extensive knowledge and experience. He helped answer my questions and gave me the name of the local Chicago expert in the field. My daughter’s friend was subsequently cured.
   His personality was so friendly, positive and enthusiastic, any encounter with him made me feel better no matter how brief and despite long gaps between visits. He will be missed by everyone who knew him.