Robert E. Eck, ""Bob"", age 87, beloved husband of Ellen (Summers) Eck, passed away on January 27 after a lengthy illness. He was preceded in death by his father, Roy A. Eck, his mother Helen B. Eck, and 3 brothers, Richard Eck, Donald Eck and Roy Eck. He is survived by a brother Thomas (Betty Ann) Eck. He is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Ellen, 2 daughters, Sandra Arnold Harris (Dan) and Barbara E. Bolen (David), 1 son Robert D. Eck (Kendra), 5 grandchildren Paul Arnold, Jessica (Tom) Gershwin, Bryan Bolen, Allison Eck, Pamela Eck and 2 step grandchildren Laurie (Josh) Stobb and Jim Harris. Bob was born in Syracuse, NY and grew up in East Genoa, NY, Teaneck, NJ and Buffalo, NY. He graduated from Amherst High School in Amherst, NY in 1945 and upon graduation enlisted in the Navy Air Force V-5 program. In 1947 he entered the University of Buffalo in Buffalo, NY in the Engineering School and graduated in 1950 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering. It was at UB that Bob met his future wife, Ellen. They were married in 1952 and lived in Williamsville, NY for 37 years. Bob and Ellen had spent winters for many years in Venice, Florida at the Plantation Golf and Country Club, and in 1997 moved there permanently. Bob joined Buffalo Forge Company in 1950 and spent his entire career of 38 years with the company. He started as a Student Engineer Trainee, and then transferred to the Dallas, TX sales office as a Sales Engineer in 1952. In 1954 he opened the Columbus, OH sales office. In 1959, Bob returned to the Buffalo Forge home office in Buffalo as Manager of Air Conditioning Sales. He was then promoted to Sales Manager, Fan and Air Conditioning Equipment in 1962 and Assistant to the President in 1968. Bob was promoted to Vice President in 1971 and given the responsibility for supervising the construction of a new subsidiary plant in Mexico City, and managed the facility for several years. In 1984 he was promoted to President of Buffalo Pumps Inc. in North Tonawanda, NY, a subsidiary of Buffalo Forge. Bob retired from Buffalo Forge on December 31, 1987. Bob was active in volunteering, including the Williamsville Rotary Club, where he was honored by receiving a Paul Harris Fellow. He also served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Goodwill and Daemen College, and was a White Knight at Venice Hospital. Bob enjoyed reading, travelling, bowling, dancing, gardening and playing bridge. He and Ellen loved travelling and in retirement visited Scandinavia, Europe, Alaska, Hawaii, the Canadian Rockies and also went on a number of Caribbean cruises and did bareboat sailing in the British Virgin Islands with high school friends of Bob's. Bob will be remembered as a gentleman and a gentle man, known for his wonderful smile and happy, optimistic nature. He was a loving and devoted husband, father and grandfather, who was dearly loved by his family, and he cherished his time with them. He will be with us forever. A memorial service will be held at 3:00 pm on February 7 at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Venice. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, Tidewell Hospice or Trinity Presbyterian Church. Service Information Date: Saturday, February 7, 2015 Time: 3:00 pm Trinity Presbyterian Church Address: 4365 State Road 776, , Venice, FL, 34293 | Map