Obituary of Lawrence Eckert
DR. LAWRENCE ADAM ECKERT
A Life Well Lived
Lawrence (Larry) Adam Eckert passed away peacefully on Monday, November 16, 2015 surrounded by family at Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto. 96 years old, he lived a long, full and blessed life. Sharp and witty until the end, he never lost his charm or sense of humour.
Born in Buffalo, NY to Eva and Georg, he returned with his family to their German roots in Romania when he was two. At 14, he again immigrated but this time to Canada. A true child of immigrant parents, our father was raised a devout Catholic, with a value system grounded in hard work, and driven by education, integrity and devotion to family.
In 1944, he graduated from the University of Toronto Medical School with a specialty in general surgery. While doing post-graduate work in London, England, our father met a vivacious physiotherapist from Denmark named Solvejg Ingrid Kjaergaard. Married on April 23, 1955, our parents recently celebrated their 60th anniversary together.
Doing justice to our father in a few short sentences is a challenge. He was blessed with an amazing constitution and positive life force. Medicine was always his passion and he continued to practice surgery fulltime until well past 80. Having joined Osler Bluff Ski Club in 1955, he skied until he was 88 and only quit at our insistence. He played golf until he was 94, always preferring to walk the course rather than ride a cart.
As a surgeon for 50 years, he helped countless people. His bedside manner was warm and compassionate, yet forthright and honest. Many of his patients developed into close and loyal friends.
As a young father, he was a powerful force in our family. To his children, he set a high standard of behaviour and achievement. Dinner was a must-attend-event during which he put forward his own strong opinions and engaged us in lively debate. As the years passed, he gradually mellowed and our father became our closest friend and mentor. A true patriarch of the family, no subject was taboo and our father could always be trusted to bring wisdom, sensitivity and understanding to any situation, no matter how challenging.
Outwardly, our father may be defined by his career and interests but for his family and friends, he will be most remembered as a loving husband, devoted father, grandfather, and as a modest man who accepted people just as they were. He will be deeply missed by our mother, Solvejg, 13 grandchildren, Elle, Jeremy, Matthew, Clara, Olivia, Luke, Jack, Lucy, Max, Leo, Francesca, Lola and Niko and his children, Karen, John, Lilo (Chris), Bobo (Bruno) and Tom (Claudia).
His funeral will be a private family affair with a Celebration of Life to be held from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., Saturday, November 21st at the Mississauga Golf & Country Club, located at 1725 Mississauga Road, Mississauga. All are welcome. Condolences and memories may be forwarded through www.humphreymilesnewbigging.com.
