Rev. Dr. James Milliron Eckels, a longtime resident of Andover, died in a car accident with his beloved wife, the late Jo Ann Isberg Eckels, on Friday, August 17, 2012. He was 82 years old.
Dr. Eckels was an ordained, USA, United Presbyterian and United Church of Christ Minister and a licensed Psychologist, MA, who specialized in analytic psychology.
Born in Trafford, Pennsylvania on February 27, 1930, he was the son of the late Charles Bennett Eckels and Flora Milliron Eckels. Dr. Eckels was a WWII and Korean War veteran who joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 1946 and resigned in 1951 as a Sergeant with an honorable discharge.
He attended Duke University on the G.I. Bill and graduated in 1955 with a Bachelor of Arts in English and Religion. He went on to graduate from Union Theological Seminary in 1959 with a Master of Divinity in Theology, Union Theological Seminary Presbyterian School of Christian Education in 1960 with a Master of Arts in Education: Greek New Testament, Northeastern University in 1966 with a Master of Education in Psychology, and Andover Newton Theological School in 1968 with a Master of Sacred Theology and in 1972 with a Doctor of Ministry in Psychology and Clinical Studies.
In 1959, Dr. Eckels was ordained at the Crisp Memorial Presbyterian Church in Baltimore, MD and served as its Pastor from 1958 to 1959. From 1959 to 1963 he was Pastor at Bolivar and Bethel Presbyterian Church in Redstone, PA and went on to work as Chaplain Intern at the Boston University School of Theology and Andover Newton Department of Psychology from 1963 to 1966. From 1966 to 1969 he was the Assistant Minister at Old South Congregational Church in Boston, MA, and from 1969 to 1977 he was Chaplain at Danvers State Hospital in Danvers, MA.
In 1973, Dr. Eckels received a Diplomate from the American Association of Pastoral Counselors and in 1977 moved his family to Zürich Switzerland to study at the Carl Jung Institute. He returned to Andover in 1979 and set up his counseling practice in an office on Elm Square downtown. Later, he moved his office to 95 Ballardvale Road where he worked for the rest of his life.
Dr. Eckels was a Registered Psychologist with the Board of Registration of Psychologists until the day he died.
Dr. Eckels dedicated his life to helping others, but he was “Jim” to his wife, “Dad” to his children, and “Grandpa” to his grandchildren. He loved cigars, the Patriots, the Celtics, and even the Red Sox. And although he had many relationships over the years, it was his wife and his children that mattered most, for to him, they were his greatest achievement.
Dr. Eckels will be truly missed by his loving children; Marcella R. Eckels and her husband John P. O’Connell of Brooklyn, New York, John C. Eckels of Burlington, Vermont and James J. Eckels of Los Angeles, California, twin granddaughters; Helen and Maeve O’Connell, both of Brooklyn, New York and sister; Marion Arosell of Pennsylvania. Dr. Eckels was also the brother of the late Charles and George Eckels.
The funeral service for James and Jo Ann was celebrated in the West Parish Church, 129 Reservation Road, Andover, on Saturday, August 25th at 10:00 a.m. Many relatives and friends respectfully attended. Calling hours were held in the Burke-Magliozzi Funeral Home, 390 North Main Street, Andover, on Friday, August 24, 2012, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Burial was in Spring Grove Cemetery in Andover. Donations in James and Jo Ann’s memory may be made to the National Audubon Society or the Lazarus House Ministries, Inc. For additional information, please visit, www.burkemagliozzi.com.