Lloyd Richard Eckel's Obituary
Lloyd Richard Eckel, age 83, was born in Far Rockaway, Queens, NY, in 1940 to Irene and Harry Eckel Sr. He was a younger brother to Harry Eckel Jr., and the proud father of Tim and Todd Eckel. His legacy lives on through his beloved grandchildren: Sean, Ryder, Sawyer, and Hunter Eckel.
Lloyd was a man of many passions. He loved the thrill of fast cars, the magic of the movies, and the excitement of travel and new adventures. His life was full of rich experiences—from playing stickball on the streets of Broad Channel and excelling in school sports, where he was even named Athlete of the Year by Teen Magazine®, to moving to Miami and living on the beach, Lloyd embraced life with energy and enthusiasm. He later met his ex-wife, started a family in Illinois, and eventually retired to Florida, where he spent his final years.
Anyone who knew Lloyd well would agree that he could be described as thrifty, even frugal. He had a knack for saving, and there are plenty of funny stories we could share about his budget-conscious ways. Family vacations were spent at the most modest motels (to put nicely), and like a Clark W. Griswold, he had a habit of taking the scenic route to random places, like driving miles out of the way to see a "dinosaur footprint" in the middle of nowhere—one that was almost certainly fake. Lloyd denied himself many of life's comforts, or even pamper or splurge on himself (outside of his cars of course).
It wasn’t until later in life that we began to realize how much of himself Lloyd gave to others without ever seeking recognition. As we sort through his affairs, we’ve discovered just how quietly generous he was. He made countless charitable donations in silence, never drawing attention to his kindness. He believed in giving humbly, without pride.
There’s a story that captures this perfectly. On that trip to see the fake dinosaur footprint, when we found ourselves sleeping in the car that night, Dad gave nearly all the cash he had left to the man who ran the "attraction." When I asked why, especially since we could have used it, he simply said, "He probably needs it more than us." That’s just who Lloyd was—he always thought of others.
If there’s one message Lloyd would want to leave us with, it’s this: Try new things. It’s a simple idea, but one he lived by and hoped his grandchildren would understand. Try new foods (who would’ve thought kippered herring would become my favorite snack until I tried it?) Visit new places—even if it’s a three-hour round trip to see a questionable dinosaur footprint. Explore new hobbies or sports. Just try. Life is obviously too short not to. You never know what you might discover, and the world may just open up in ways you never imagined.
So, until we meet again, Dad—see you later, alligator…
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Lloyd’s memory to the following charities, which held a special place in his heart:
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital:
https://www.stjude.org/donate/donate-to-st-jude.html?sc_icid=wtg-lz-donatenow&frequency_selected=0
Shriners Children's Hospital:
https://donate.lovetotherescue.org/give/119312/#!/donation/checkout?c_src=lttr-home
Feed the Children:
https://www.feedthechildren.org/ways-to-give/monthly-giving/?form=givemonthly
Feeding America:
https://give.feedingamerica.org/a/donate
Disabled American Veterans (DAV):
https://help.dav.org/page/66135/donate/1?ea.tracking.id=davweb_mainbutton&en_txn6=F24FN006AADVAA&utm_campaign=fund&utm_medium=mainweb&utm_source=dav&utm_content=redbutton_camptemp
What’s your fondest memory of Lloyd?
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Share a story where Lloyd's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Lloyd you’ll never forget.
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