In the early hours of October 19, 2024, Ralph William Eckardt III left this world to enter the presence of his Creator, whose love and light were made visible through Ralph’s life.

At 59, Ralph did not fear death but mourned leaving this world before making more cherished memories with his wife Melody Joy Eckardt and his three cherished daughters—Sophia, Kathryn, and Alexandria. Ralph faced death as he did life, with gratitude for God’s many blessings.

Ralph was born on January 22, 1965, in Ridley Park, Pennsylvania to Ralph William Eckardt, Jr. and the late Joyce Elizabeth (Barrick) Eckardt, alongside siblings Sherie Eckardt (now Gilbaugh) and Lynda Eckardt (now Colucci). In elementary school, Ralph struggled to walk due to childhood arthritis. Each morning, he would be pulled by wagon to school where his muscles would gradually loosen. By day’s end, little Ralph would run home. During middle school and early high school he attended four schools in four years and finally graduated from The Christian Academy.

After high school, Ralph attended Drexel University, but flunked out after one semester, finding more joy playing tag on the Philadelphia subway system than going to class. He worked odd jobs until taking a position at a local screen-printing company where he worked his way from an entry-level position to the head of two departments of the company. This experience gave him confidence in his abilities and direction.

At 24, Ralph enrolled at Messiah College, where he obtained a degree in business administration and accounting. There, he met his soul’s joy—Melody. Ralph graduated at the top of the class and achieved a top national score on the CPA exam, but none of the big six accounting firms were recruiting from his school. Undaunted, Ralph donned a suit and walked into the top six accounting firms in Philadelphia, requesting on-the-spot interviews and explaining to the managers why he should be hired. He was offered multiple positions.

Ralph worked for a few years with Arthur Anderson and Anderson Consulting before moving with Melody to Boston and earning his MBA from MIT Sloan School of Management. He joined the Boston Consulting Group and earned a position as senior manager and head of the International Intellectual Property Strategy Team. He co-authored a book entitled The Invisible Edge and designed a patented process for assigning value to patents, then started an intellectual property strategy consulting firm, Sherpa Technology Group. He loved his work, learning about cutting-edge technologies, discussing challenging business problems, meeting with leaders from many industries, and mentoring his team. He and his partners ran the business like a family, encouraged a work-life balance, and valued growth, innovation, and curiosity.

Yet, with all his professional success, Ralph rarely worked outside of business hours except when the rest of the family was busy. Meeting times were scheduled to accommodate his daughters’ volleyball matches or gymnastics competitions and business calls never interfered with family game night. He was in charge of the games at his daughter’s birthday parties and planned intricate parties, such as a Harry Potter themed party complete with backyard quidditch courts. Running a multi-office international company never prevented him from being fully present and investing in the lives of others.

The source of his balanced approach came from his deep faith in God, a humble walk that he lived out every day as he led Sunday school classes and small group ministries, as he built various sets for vacation bible schools (he once made a replica of the statue of liberty out of foam) or hosted talks by ministers who were on the front lines of human trafficking. He spoke powerfully to youth groups and men’s breakfasts and college students, inspiring others to integrate reason with a faith always oriented towards God.

As a result of his love for the church, he built his home with the sole intent of bringing people together, of investing in his community. He could be found stocking the fridge with the sodas he knew kids would enjoy, flipping burgers at the grill, or cleaning up after a regular stream of 60 guests had peopled his yard. He was generous to all but especially to anyone in need—from immigrants to homeless families to teenagers struggling to find their way. Convinced that he should do the good he could, he did.

A kid magnet, Ralph never intimidated children with his 6’ 2’’ stature but drew them in with gentle conversation and questions about basketball games and science projects.

A good son, Ralph never missed his 9:00 Friday morning meeting, a phone call with his dad in which they would discuss books and podcasts, ideas and psychology.

A voracious learner, Ralph read about history, technology, philosophy and economics. He listened to hundreds of podcasts on technology, politics, and current issues. One year he read over 130 books before losing count. Even in a hospital bed, he was planning the next meeting of his book club.

A master of presenting information, Ralph’s voice still echoes in the minds of those who loved to hear him talk. Whether describing the terracotta army, Peruvian Nazca lines, or Irish sheepdogs—whether gushing about the intricacies of the modern economy or the miracle of the graphite pencil, Ralph was in awe of God’s world and the blessings we so often take for granted. To speak with him was to be drawn into a divine enchantment. Even as the end drew near, he would say, “Who could look at my life and call me anything but blessed?”

A world adventurer with his wife Melody, Ralph decided to help their kids see the world, to become curious about its history and people and cultures—from Spain to Nepal, from Africa to Israel. Yet, every summer vacation, Ralph went to the Jersey Shore to sit on the beach with his beloved extended family. And during February vacations, he would rent a vacation house in Maine and invite all his friends to stay.

But while Ralph enjoyed traveling the globe and hosting enormous house parties, his favorite getaway was every Saturday morning when he would visit a local breakfast spot with his wife Melody. They would sit together and discuss her latest class or a lecture series they were working through. Melody is convinced that of all the things that Ralph deeply loved, she was foremost, always saying to her, “You’re my Favorite.” He never stopped dating his wife but became better and better as a partner, a choice he actively made. In his little red book, where he listed his yearly goals, he wrote his most pressing: “Message Melody every day to tell her that I love her.’”

He was once a young boy who couldn’t walk but learned to run. He was once a college dropout, who became a successful, thriving business leader. He was once a sinner, who was found by God’s grace.

Throughout his life, Ralph remained wide-eyed and eager, always ready to learn more, give more, reach higher, love deeper, and improve every minute of every day, always hoping that his light would “shine before men so that they might see [his] good works and glorify our Father in heaven.”

Our hearts are heavy-laden when we see the spaces once filled by Ralph. But we are buoyed by the knowledge that now he encumbers no wagon bed, no hospital room. He sprints down a golden path, hair flying, heart churning, into the awaiting arms of his Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

May we continue Ralph's journey with the joy he traveled, and at its end, may we rest with him at the feet of the Father.

A service remembering Ralph’s life will be, November 29 at 4:00PM at the Wollaston Church of the Nazarene, 37 E Elm Ave, Quincy, MA. All who wish to remember him are welcome.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to one of the following charities in Ralphs’ name: Wollaston Church of the Nazarene https://wollynaz.churchcenter.com/giving

or the Dana Farber Lung Cancer Research (Search for Dana Farber Tribute and Memorial gifts)