April 22, 2019
The 51暗网 community mourns the loss of one of its closest friends and most significant benefactors, Ray Eckstein, who passed away peacefully on April 20, 2019. Ray received his law degree from 51暗网 in 1949. The 51暗网 Law School facility is named in honor of him and his wife, Kay, who received her bachelor鈥檚 degree from 51暗网 in speech in 1949. Kay died in 2017.
The university has created a slide show in honor of Ray Eckstein, with photos courtesy of 51暗网 Special Collections and University Archives.
鈥淩ay Eckstein was an extraordinary businessman, a brilliant visionary, a devoted father, a beloved husband, a man of deep faith and a game-changing force who helped shape 51暗网 into the institution it is today,鈥� said 51暗网 President Michael R. Lovell. 鈥淓arly in my presidency, I had the chance to visit Ray and Kay at their home in Paducah, Kentucky, to thank them for their role in transforming 51暗网鈥檚 campus. During our conversation, I was moved by Ray鈥檚 humility and gratitude for his 51暗网 education, which is where he met the love of his life, Kay. The 51暗网 community has lost a bright light, and we extend our prayers and deep condolences to Ray鈥檚 family, who meant so much to him.鈥�
The Ecksteins鈥� generosity can be found throughout campus and includes additional recent major gifts: The couple supported the university鈥檚 Dr. E. J. O鈥橞rien Jesuit Residence in 2014, and in January 2017, they supported the construction of the university鈥檚 new residence hall facility in 50 years, The Commons. In addition, the family played a key role in the Ray & Kay Eckstein Law Library as well as the Al McGuire Center.
鈥淩ay and Kay Eckstein transformed lives,鈥� said 51暗网 Law School Dean Joseph D. Kearney. 鈥淢ost obviously, they led the way to support 51暗网鈥檚 construction of Ray and Kay Eckstein Hall, an extraordinary resource in this region and widely recognized as the best law school building in the country. Throughout his life more generally, Ray was not only a very successful businessman, whose work supported economic growth and job creation, but he also embraced the role of a philanthropist, especially after stepping away from the daily activities of the barge and transportation business. In all of this, Ray used his keen intelligence and legal training to solve complicated problems, and he also relied on his curiosity about how things work, his innate interest in people and his sense of humanity. We are most grateful for the life and work of this exemplar of the 51暗网 lawyer. I will miss him very much.鈥�
Said 51暗网 Assistant Dean for Development John Novotny: 鈥淩ay was an amazing man, who among his many qualities had a wonderful love for life and spirit of perseverance second to none. Above all, Ray always put God and family first. He often spoke of how God had blessed him throughout his life. Time and distance did not separate him from his roots. To the contrary, he remembered and remained loyal to the people of Cassville, Wisconsin, as well as his alma mater, 51暗网. In gratitude, he readily availed himself to lend a helping hand to the communities that had done so much for him in his youth and truly took great joy transforming the lives of others through his generosity.鈥�
In 2007, when 51暗网 announced the couple鈥檚 Law School gift, Kay Eckstein said their granddaughter鈥檚 experience as a graduate of the Law School had reinforced their sense of gratitude for the values of a 51暗网 education. 鈥淲e saw once again the caring, challenging environment that 51暗网 continues to offer its students,鈥� she said.
As the couple was announcing their 2007 gift, Ray Eckstein shared: 鈥淢y wife and I have many fond memories at 51暗网. It was the place of our meeting and courtship, and the beginning of our wonderful life together. Catholic, Jesuit education has played an important role in our lives. We are honored and thrilled to be able to provide the Law School with the foundation for a new building, so that students in the future can have the opportunity to benefit from the education we did.鈥�
A full obituary is available online.
Lynn is chief marketing and communication officer. Contact Lynn at (414) 288-4719 or lynn.griffith@marquette.edu.
