Dorothy Ecker, 90
September 28, 2026

Dorothy “Dottie” M. Ecker ’57, MA ’69, a renowned occupational therapist whose compassion, knowledge, skill and dedication served countless children and their families across a career spanning more than five decades, died peacefully at her home in La Cañada Flintridge, Calif., on July 20, 2026. She was 90.

Ecker earned a Bachelor of Science degree in occupational therapy from the University of Southern California in 1957. Her first professional position was at Texas Rehabilitation Center in Gonzales, Texas. In 1960, she married Roland, a physical therapist, and they moved to La Cañada Flintridge. She earned a Master of Arts degree in occupational therapy from USC in 1969.

As a Senior Occupational Therapist at Los Angeles County General Hospital, later known as LAC+USC Medical Center, Ecker was instrumental in establishing an innovative geriatric inpatient rehabilitation program, as well as a rehabilitation unit serving children and adults. Shortly thereafter at County General, she became Senior Pediatric Occupational Therapist, and developed outpatient therapeutic programs for children.

In 1965, Ecker became a research assistant to USC faculty member A. Jean Ayres ’45, MA ’54, and helped evaluate typically-developing children for the standardization of visual, tactile and kinesthetic sensory integrative tests. In 1972, Ayres selected Ecker for the first cohort of faculty members to teach sensory integration theory and the administration of Ayres’ newly published “Southern California Sensory Integration Tests.”

In 1978, Ecker shifted her professional focus to administration and management, and became Manager of Occupational Therapy and Pediatric Program Coordinator at Glendale Adventist Medical Center Rehabilitation Institute. She later returned to LAC+USC Medical Center to serve as Women’s and Children’s Occupational Therapy Supervisor. After her 1996 retirement, she continued working part-time in early intervention.

Throughout her career, Ecker continued taking graduate education courses and served as a faculty instructor at USC, Loma Linda University and a number of other universities and organizations. She taught more than 100 courses and lectures to occupational therapy students, occupational therapists and other health professionals, sharing her expertise in child development, sensory integration, neurology and pediatric occupational therapy.

Ecker’s contributions were recognized with numerous professional honors including the American Occupational Therapy Association’s Roster of Fellows and multiple AOTA service awards; the American Occupational Therapy Foundation’s A. Jean Ayres Award; the Occupational Therapy Association of California’s Lifetime Achievement Award, Practice Award and Service Award; and the California Foundation for Occupational Therapy’s Meritorious Service Award.

Ecker loved cheering for USC football, listening to music (especially Neil Diamond), dancing and, for more than three decades in her later years, aerobic dance classes. She had a profound love of nature and was an enthusiastic birdwatcher, and for many years carried a birding guide in which she carefully recorded the species she observed during her extensive world travels across nearly every continent. For more than 20 years, she spent weekends volunteering at Descanso Gardens, a botanical garden in La Cañada Flintridge, where she shared her knowledge and enthusiasm with visitors. She generously supported many environmental organizations dedicated to protecting animals, forests and natural ecosystems of which she cared deeply.

Ecker was a self-made woman — she began work at the age of 14 — and carried that sense of determination and work ethic throughout her life. To her family, she was a hero who faced life’s challenges with extraordinary courage and perseverance, and brought dedication, compassion and generosity to serve countless families using occupational therapy.

Ecker is survived by her husband Roland, sons Brian and Chris, and grandchildren Callym and Ryan. A celebration of life will be held at Memorial Park, 1301 Foothill Blvd., La Cañada, CA 91011, on Sunday, Oct. 18, at 4:00 p.m. Brian Ecker will perform the songs of Neil Diamond. All are welcome and encouraged to bring food and beverages, along with a lawn chair or blanket for the grass.

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