Press of Atlantic City - Newspaper
Sunday, May 18, 2003 

ECKHARDT, RICHARD LEWIS, 69, died at Burdette Tomlin Memorial Hospital in Cape May Court 
House.


He was born and raised in Kearny, and moved to Denville in 1959, where he lived until moving to 
Avalon in 1998.


Dick went to Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA in the 1950's to become an electrical engineer. 
While he was in his junior year he contracted Polio, which left him paralyzed. After leaving college 
he became a self taught electronics repairman and started Eckhardt Electronics where he repaired 
radios, televisions and fire department plectrons at his home in Denville.


Throughout his life he enjoyed being a licensed Ham Radio Operator, and had been an honorary 
Fireman in Denville.


In 1998 he and his wife moved to Avalon, where he continued his passion of building models and 
working with electronics. He was a member of the Academy of Model Aeronautics with the Cape 
May County Wireless Aircraft Sports Pilots Assoc. Dick was also a member of the Naval Air 
Station Wildwood Aviation Museum, in Rio Grande. He volunteered at the Wetland Institute in 
Stone Harbor, and had been a member of the St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Stone Harbor.


He is survived by his wife Barbara R. (nee Rayner); a sister, Helen Sheehy of Amagansett, NY; 
and a brother in law, Norman Dean of Denville; eight nieces and nephews, Susan Thorpe, Salli 
Innes, Scott Sheehy, Nancy Maynard, Geoffrey Dean, Richard Dean and Polly Byrne.


Friends may visit with the family on Monday, May 19, 2003 from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. at the Norman 
Dean Home for Services, 16 Righter Ave., Denville, NJ 973-627-1880,



www.normandean.com


Memorial services will be held on Saturday, May 31, 2003 at 12:00 Noon at St. Mary's Episcopal 
Church in Stone Harbor.


Donations being accepted to either the Avalon Rescue Squad, PO Box 233, Avalon, NJ 08232, or to The Wetland Institute, 1075 Stone Harbor Blvd., Stone Harbor, NJ 08247.