Donald C. Eckert, 74, of Vero Beach, passed away on May 16, 2016.
He is survived by his sister Marilyn Mulhall of Vero Beach; his nephew Timothy and Sharlene Mulhall and his great-nephews, Michael, Donovan and Brendan all of Forked River, N.J.; and his niece MaryBeth and Joseph Colosi of Manchester, N.J. and many, many friends
He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Robert J. Eckert.
Eckert was born in Elizabeth, N.J., on June 7, 1941, to the late Joseph F and Matilda Schmidt Eckert. He attended Marist College and then Newark College of Engineering where he graduated with a degree in Electrical Engineering.
The company where he was employed sent him out to San Francisco to work on a government project. He hated the project and what it stood for, but he fell in love with San Francisco, where he had wonderful life for the next 47 years.
During that time, he went to Berkeley College and studied photography. In the 1970’s, he was active in helping gay rights to become what they are today. He loved history and documented that time period so the world would never forget how hard it was for a young man or women to be different in this world.
Eckert had the privilege of having Harvey Milk, slain San Francisco supervisor, as a dear friend. He took many photos of him, including one showing him shaking hands with Jimmy Carter that was used in the 1984 Oscar-winning documentary The Times of Harvey Milk.
He traveled all over the world, attended the Gay Games in San Francisco, Vancouver, New York, Amsterdam and Sydney, and saw three total solar eclipses over his lifetime.
When Levi opened their new store in San Francisco they purchased the rights to four of his photos of men on the street in their Levis and used them in their grand opening.
Eckert helped to take care of many of his friends who died of AIDS. He was a loving, caring true friend to many, many people.
In 2013, he decided to move to Vero Beach to help take care of his mother, who was 98, before her passing. He discovered McKee Botanical Gardens and became a volunteer there. He absolutely loved the time he spent giving tours of the Gardens and helping with background tasks, just about every day.
We invite family and friends to join us in a celebration of Donald’s life at McKee Gardens on Monday, May 23, 2016 at 12 p.m., please use side entrance not main entrance off Rt. 1 as the Garden is closed to the public on Mondays.
If anyone cares to make a donation in his honor any of the following would make him happy:
McKee Botanical Gardens, 350 Hwy 1, Vero Beach, FL 32962
Milk Foundation, P.O. Box 5666, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33310
VNA Hospice House, 901 37th Street, Vero Beach, FL 32960
Cox Gifford Seawinds Funeral Home and Crematory is handling arrangements.