Emile Eckart

Emile P. Eckart, M.D. died on Sunday, May 31, 2009, age 88. A native of New Orleans, LA, he was born on September 13, 1920, and was a resident of Little Rock for 34 years. A long-time member of Immaculate Heart of Mary church, he served as Lector, and Eucharistic minister. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of sixty-one years, Helen, and is survived by two sons: Emile III of Salt Lake City, Utah, and Christopher of Storm Lake, Iowa; three daughters: Holliday Waldrop of Orlando, Florida; Barbara Harbach of Chino Hills California; and Deborah Trickey of Fort Worth Texas, and their spouses; three grandsons, Emile IV, Gregory, and Matthew, and loving granddaughter, Madeline Harbach. Dr. Eckart is also survived by his sister, Marion Remy of New Orleans, Louisiana. Following his undergraduate degree at L.S.U., Dr. Eckart graduated from L.S.U. School of Medicine in 1943, interned at Charity Hospital in New Orleans, and served as a Medical Officer in the U.S. Navy at the end of World War II, reaching the rank of Senior Lieutenant, including service as Senior Medical Officer in the cruiser USS Huntington. He was appointed a Fellow of the Menninger School of Psychiatry at Topeka, Kansas in 1950 and on completion of his specialty training, remained there as a staff member till 1955. After 20 years in the private practice of Psychiatry in Fort Dodge, Iowa, including as Chief of Staff of the Kersten Clinic, and St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, and desiring to spend the remainder of his professional life teaching, Dr. Eckart accepted the position of Director of Professional Education at Arkansas State Hospital in June 1975, and was appointed Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at U.A.M.S., where he taught for 11 years, and was Director of Psychiatric Residency Training, retiring in July, 1986. Dr. Eckart enjoyed many hobbies including golf, flying, sailing, woodworking, genealogy, and reading. In addition to being a Diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry, he was a member of several professional organizations including the American Medical Assn., and the American Psychiatric Assn. wherein he was a Distinguished Life Fellow. A memorial service will be announced later. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, or the charity of your choice. Arrangements by North Little Rock Funeral Home and Cremation Service, 758-1170. Online obituary and guest register at www.nlrfh.com.

Emile Eckart

September 13, 1920 - May 31, 2009