In late June, YMCA trustees, board members, staff, members, family, close friends and the Y-Guy character mascot attended a retirement celebration in the Jamestown YMCA lower gym to honor Eckendorf for his many years of service to the community and National YMCA organization.

The “Say Goodbye to the Tie” themed-event was organized by Ashley Berlin, YMCA office manager; Scott Mekus of Eventz by Scott; Jon O’Brian, YMCA Camp Onyahsa branch manager and George Panebianco, YMCA board president.

Eckendorf started his Y career in 1978 in Erie and moved to Ohio in 1981 to further his YMCA employment. In 1984, he was hired by the Jamestown Area YMCA and became CEO in 1986.

His resume of accomplishments included increasing the Jamestown Area YMCAs from one branch to five branches along with increasing overall budgets; implementing Fourth Street Housing, overseeing a $3 million capital campaign; organizing several successful Dream House/Vacation and Final Four basketball fundraisers; creating a teen center; introducing Battle of the Businesses competition; instituting Chairman’s Roundtable; bringing spinning program and Chautauqua Striders to the YMCA; developing Santa at the Mall; instituting income-based membership pricing; and launching the YMCA Cornerstone Club and Endowment Program.

Eckendorf, center, was honored for his 44 years of YMCA service. He is pictured with Mary Kay Polston, director of YMCA Member Advancement of the Alliance of New York State YMCAs and local YMCA board president George Panebianco. Submitted photos

O’Brian said Eckendorf has been consistent and diligent among his other leadership qualities.

“As his CEO role, he has expanded youth programs at the downtown Jamestown YMCA, remade this Y by fixing problems, hiring new staff, building membership over the years and opening new Y facilities,” he said.

Christopher Blakeslee, a YMCA Camp Onyahsa staff member, past Jamestown Area YMCA membership and marketing director and an 8-year-old youth from Ohio that Eckendorf took under his wings, shared fond memories of Eckendorf and two other camper mentees — Dave Backus and Bryan Mitchell — during his upbringing.

“From that moment on, this man has been in my life for 40 plus years, mentoring me, guiding me and leading me,” Blakeslee said.

Mike Lyons, YMCA board of trustees chairman, presented Eckendorf with an oversized YMCA lifetime membership card as a thank you for his years of service.

“He’s really a true YMCA person as he learned and developed relationships and became more and more confident over the years,” Lyons said. “It’s a story here at the YMCA and it wasn’t always easy. Mark grew and turned into a very strong YMCA leader and has gained much respect from his peers.”

Tom Anderson, Lakewood YMCA branch manager, was hired by Eckendorf in 1987 as the Jamestown YMCA physical director and then promoted to Lakewood Y branch manage in 1991 after the building was acquired.

“I want to wish Mark a happy and healthy retirement,” Anderson said.

Jon Eckendorf, Mark’s son, said his family grew up at the Y.

“I think we were challenged to do better and be better and that is the kind of organization my dad ran,” he said. “He ran a place that could feel like a second home and anyone who was a part of the organization could feel like family — a place that the main goal wasn’t to be a gym but to help our community grow.”

An emotional Eckendorf made his final speech as a YMCA CEO and first thanked his belief in faith, which has been a constant in his life, followed by reciting his favorite his favorite story “Footprints.”

“I came to Jamestown at the age of 28 years with a beat up car and one dog to be at the Y — and now, a blessed family with a wife, two children, several dogs, friends and neighbors,” he said.