Brian Eckstein, Ball State alumnus and production manager at Indiana Public Radio, died Monday at age 40.
Eckstein started working at IPR on a volunteer basis while in high school, according to IPR general manager Marcus Jackman. From there, he continued working through his time at Ball State.
IPR is an affiliate of National Public Radio and located at the David Letterman Communication and Media Building.
After graduating in 1995, he took a job at Northeast Indiana Public Radio, but returned in 1997, according to the Disabled Student Development outstanding alumni page.
Jackman said Eckstein's legacy reaches beyond his time on air.
"Brian's voice was one of the most recognizable on the air," he said. "But his personality was one of the most kind and loving on our air and in our office."
Both Jackman and news director Terry Heifetz, also a telecommunications professor, described Eckstein as an essential employee at IPR.
"He was really the person who made sure IPR was on the air day in and day out," Heifetz said.
Jackman explained that Eckstein's role expanded even further.
"He oversaw our on-air students and mentored them," Jackman said. "He was in charge of our automation system. Basically, he was the gatekeeper for whatever was going to come out of the speaker."
Both said Eckstein will be remembered not only for his work at IPR but his attitude and giving personality.
"[He] was an exceptionally generous person with his gifts, with is time, with his laughter and with his service," Jackman said.
"Brian would do anything for anyone," Heifetz said. "If you needed something done, he would find a way to do it."
Heifetz said no one at IPR expected Eckstein's death.
"What hits the hardest," Heifetz said, "is that he survived cancer and kidney transplants and all of a sudden, he's just gone. "
The visitation will be from noon to 3 p.m. on Friday at St. Francis of Assisi, 1200 W. Riverside Avenue, with the funeral immediately following.
A Facebook page has been created in Eckstein's honor called "In Loving Memory of Brian Eckstein."
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