Dr. Richard Kahr Jeck PhD,Phys.'s Obituary
Dr. Richard Kahr Jeck (PhD, Physics) has finally found the answer he spent his life seeking. For 87 years, he pursued truth with unwavering devotion—both in the precision of science and the depth of his Catholic faith. Neither ever betrayed him, and neither ever diminished his boundless curiosity.
A man equally at home in a laboratory and in theological contemplation, Richard delighted in explaining that science and faith were not contradictions but partners in understanding creation. He often quoted St. Thomas Aquinas, the saint of faith and reason, whose writings reflected Richard’s own lifelong harmony of intellect and belief.
A gifted physicist and innovator, Richard designed, built, and patented a groundbreaking under‑wing laser instrument to count and measure water droplets in clouds—advancing the understanding of how ice forms on aircraft. Even in retirement, he continued to chase the mysteries of the universe. For sheer enjoyment, he volunteered his time analyzing data collected by Jesuit astronomers from their mountain‑top telescope in the search for exoplanets.
Richard was known to all as a gentle, kind, and humble man. He was soft‑spoken and thoughtful, the sort of person who would graciously step back from a conversation rather than risk embarrassing anyone. His presence made rooms calmer, conversations kinder, and people better.
For the past twenty years, he lived with Parkinson’s disease. Not once—not one time—did he complain.
Richard leaves behind a legacy of intellect, faith, integrity, and quiet strength. Those who loved him will long remember the grace with which he lived, the curiosity that drove him, and the gentleness that defined him.
May he now rest in the truth he spent a lifetime seeking.
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