Eckhard E. Muhlhauser

Princeton - Eckhard Erich Muhlhauser, 91, of Princeton, Massachusetts, passed away on September 6, 2026, in Worcester, Massachusetts.

Eckhard was born on July 5, 1935, in Erbach, Germany, the son of Otto Mühlhäuser and Anna Maria Mühlhäuser (Lindner). He attended school in Germany before receiving a scholarship to spend his senior year of high school in the United States. He graduated from Hartford High School in White River Junction, Vermont, an experience that began a lifelong love of the United States and of Vermont in particular. He returned to Germany to study English and law at Frankfurt University and later completed a commercial apprenticeship at Hoechst AG. He was subsequently accepted into a management training program, which he completed at Northwestern University.

It was in Germany that Eckhard met the love of his life, Brigitta Schmidl. The two met during a snowball fight in Michelstadt, when Eckhard came to Brigitta’s rescue. This marked the beginning of a love that would span more than 71 years. Together they built a life defined by their devotion to one another and, above all, to their family.

In 1968, Eckhard and Brigitta moved their family to the United States for what was originally intended to be a two-year assignment. By the end of those two years, however, they knew they wanted to make America their permanent home. They settled in Berkeley Heights, New Jersey, where they lived until 1990, before moving to Princeton, Massachusetts.

Eckhard had a long and distinguished career in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries. He spent 33 years with Hoechst. In 1990, he became President of ChemDesign Corporation and later served as Chairman of Rhodes Technologies for 20 years. He continued working until the age of 84, when he finally retired and he and Brigitta happily took on a new role together as devoted horse-show grandparents.

Eckhard was, above all, a family man. He was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather, and nothing gave him greater pleasure than being surrounded by his family. In his later years especially, much of his time was devoted to having fun with his grandchildren, who affectionately called him “Opi.”

He loved the family gatherings, dance recitals, football and lacrosse games, and horse shows all over the country. He took great pride in his grandchildren, but what mattered most was simply being part of their lives—sharing their interests, enjoying their accomplishments, and spending time together.

Vermont remained a special place for Eckhard throughout his life. In 1987, he and Brigitta purchased a vacation home there, where they spent a great deal of time together and where countless family memories were made. Eckhard loved being outdoors, and Vermont gave him the opportunity to share that love with his family. He taught his grandchildren to shoot, took them for tractor rides, and was delighted to watch them ski and snowmobile.

Eckhard and Brigitta also spent a significant part of each year in Sarasota, Florida, where they enjoyed the sunshine and time together. Sarasota became another special place for family memories, particularly when their grandchildren visited.

Eckhard also enjoyed hunting, shooting, boating, and dogs. Having first fallen in love with America during his year as a high school student in Vermont, he remained a dedicated patriot to the end.

Eckhard is survived by his beloved wife, Brigitta Muhlhauser (Schmidl); his sons, Jurgen Muhlhauser and his wife, Anya, of Tewksbury Township, New Jersey, and Markus Muhlhauser and his wife, Ania, of Tolland, Connecticut; his grandchildren, Hunter, Katarina, Maximus, and Isabella; and his sister, Gundula.

For all that Eckhard experienced and accomplished during his 91 years, what mattered most to him was the family he loved and the life he shared with them. To those who knew and loved him best, he was simply Husband, Dad, and Opi—and those were the roles he cherished most.