Robert John Eckert, Jr., passed away on March 16, 2023. He was a lifelong resident of Mobile. He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert J. Eckert and Helen Morris Eckert. He is survived by his loving wife of 57 years, Mary Estelle (Duffy) Eckert, and their children Julie Elizabeth (Baker) and Patrick Duffy Eckert and two grandchildren, Mary Deas Baker Reeves (Graham) and Elizabeth Frances Baker, as well as his brothers, David Patrick Eckert of Mississippi and Michael Don Eckert (Teenie) of Lafayette, LA; great-granddaughter, Kate, nieces, nephews and numerous cousins.
Bobby was a 1955 graduate of McGill Institute and received a BS degree in Chemistry from Spring Hill College in 1959, and an MS degree in Organic Chemistry from Louisiana State University in 1962. He served two years as a first lieutenant in the U. S. Army Chemical Corps.
He retired after 32 years with Ciba-Geigy Corp., where he held advancing positions of responsibility as Chemist, Development Group Leader and Production/Safety Area Supervisor. His efforts in the technical arena were recognized by some eight U.S. and/or foreign patents and several national publications relating to organic syntheses and. process improvements. During his career at Ciba he was assigned to the Basle, Switzerland headquarters for an eighteen month training assignment where he, along with his family, were challenged with the German language while enjoying many trips throughout Europe.
Upon his retirement from Ciba-Geigy he taught at Spring Hill College, and other colleges in the area as an adjunct instructor in Organic Chemistry, General Chemistry and Nurses Chemistry.
Bobby enjoyed the friendly, competitive aspects of high school and collegiate tennis and weekly golf with various groups, including the Spring Hill Seniors, throughout his life. He was an avid fisherman and duck hunter in the Delta with his brothers, and a speckled trout and deep sea fisherman off Dauphin Island with his Duffy nephews and young friends, and from his pier at night on the Intracoastal Waterway at Innerarity Island, Florida. He had also been a member of a Mystic society.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday, March 21, 2023 from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. at St. Ignatius Catholic Church, Mobile, Alabama. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. Interment will follow in Pine Crest Cemetery, 1939 Dauphin Island Pkwy., Mobile, Alabama.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Spring Hill College Chemistry Department, Organic Laboratory.
