Jon Eicholtz is an American architectural engineer, business leader, and real estate developer. He is also known as the husband of actress Barbara Eden. She became famous for playing Jeannie in the hit TV show I Dream of Jeannie.

His career began many years before his marriage to Eden. He worked on large building projects in several US cities. His work included hotels, office towers, and property development.

He also held senior jobs at major construction firms. Later, he and Eden gave money to the University of Kansas. Their gift created a scholarship for acting students.

Quick Bio

Who Is Jon Eicholtz?

Jon Eicholtz grew up in Topeka, Kansas. He later went to the University of Kansas. He studied architectural engineering there.

He earned his degree in 1962. This field gave him skills in both building design and engineering. It also prepared him for large construction jobs.

His career later took him to many US cities. KU has linked his work to places such as New York, Dallas, New Orleans, Honolulu, and Los Angeles.

He became more widely known after marrying Barbara Eden. Still, his own career had already lasted for many years. His public record comes mainly from construction and real estate work.

Jon Eicholtz and His University of Kansas Education

The University of Kansas played an important part in his life. He studied architectural engineering there. He finished his degree in 1962.

Architectural engineering deals with how buildings work. Students learn about structures, design, and building systems. These skills later matched the work he did.

After college, he entered the construction field. He worked on large projects that needed careful planning. He also learned how to manage teams and budgets.

Many years later, he returned his support to KU. He and Barbara Eden funded a student scholarship. The gift showed that the university still held a key place in his life.

How Did Jon Eicholtz Build His Career?

Jon Eicholtz started building a strong record in construction early in his career. One of his known projects was Commerce Tower in Kansas City, Missouri. He worked as a project manager during its construction.

Commerce Tower is a 30 story office building. Large projects like this need strong control of time, cost, and labor. His role placed him close to the main building work.

He later moved to Hawaii. There, he worked for Swinerton and Walberg. His time in Hawaii became one of the best known parts of his career.

He soon took part in a much larger hotel project. That job was the Sheraton Waikiki. It helped make his name known in the construction field.

The Sheraton Waikiki Project

The Sheraton Waikiki is one of the main projects linked with Jon Eicholtz. The hotel has about 1,800 rooms. It opened in 1971.

At the time, it was known as the largest convention hotel in the world. The size of the project made construction very complex. It needed careful work from many teams.

Eicholtz served as project manager for Swinerton and Walberg. He worked with structural engineer Richard R. Bradshaw and other experts. They looked for ways to make the building process better.

The team changed part of the first building plan. They used a slipform method for the structure. This method helped speed up parts of the work and control costs.

What Made His Engineering Work Important?

Large hotels are hard to build. They need strong floors, walls, lifts, and support systems. They also need a plan that keeps work moving.

The Sheraton project used a building method that was advanced for its time. The team used slipforming for major parts of the structure. This method allows concrete work to move in a steady way.

Industry records say the project became a major example of this type of work. It showed how engineers and builders could change a design to improve the job.

For Jon Eicholtz, the project also showed his skill as a manager. He had to work with engineers, designers, builders, and company leaders. That experience later helped him move into senior jobs.

Leadership Roles in Construction

After his work on large projects, Eicholtz moved into company leadership. He joined Pacific Construction Company. He soon took on major duties there.

He first served as an executive vice president. In 1972, he became company president. He later served as chief executive officer and chairman.

These jobs moved him beyond site management. He now had to help guide the whole business. That meant making choices about projects, staff, money, and growth.

He later joined Pankow in Hawaii in 1978. The firm had a strong name in construction. His work there added another major company to his career record.

Jon Eicholtz and Real Estate Development

Jon Eicholtz later worked in real estate development. The University of Kansas also lists this part of his career. His work reached several major US markets.

Real estate development involves more than building. It can include finding land, planning projects, arranging money, and managing property work. His earlier construction skills fit well with this field.

Public records do not list every deal tied to him. They also do not give a full list of his private property holdings. It is better to avoid claims that cannot be checked.

What is clear is that he spent many years in construction and property work. His career grew from engineering into business leadership. That gave him a broad range of experience.

How Did Jon Eicholtz Meet Barbara Eden?

The full story of how the couple first met is not well recorded in strong public sources. What is clear is that they formed a relationship before their 1991 wedding.

Barbara Eden had already enjoyed a long career in TV and film. She became a household name through I Dream of Jeannie. The show ran from 1965 to 1970.

Eicholtz came from a very different field. He worked in engineering, construction, and property development. Their careers had little in common on the surface.

Even so, their relationship became long lasting. They have appeared together at public events over the years. They have also supported charity and education projects as a couple.

Marriage to Barbara Eden

Jon Eicholtz married Barbara Eden on January 5, 1991. The wedding took place at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco.

The ceremony was small. The Los Angeles Times reported that about 35 guests attended. A reception followed at the Fairmont Hotel.

It was Eden’s third marriage. Reports from the time also said Eicholtz had been married before. Their wedding began a marriage that has lasted for decades.

The couple has stayed together through many years of public attention. Eden continued her acting work and public events. Her husband kept a much more private profile.

Why Has Their Marriage Lasted So Long?

Barbara Eden has spoken about what helps a marriage stay strong. She has said that each person should try to see a problem from the other person’s side.

That idea is simple. It asks both people to listen before they react. Eden has said this can help couples understand each other better.

She has also spoken warmly about her life with her husband. Recent interviews show that they still enjoy time together. Their long marriage often becomes part of stories about Eden’s life.

Still, they do not share every private detail. Much of their home life stays outside the public eye. That privacy may also help explain why many claims online cannot be checked.

Life Beside a Famous Actress

Being married to Barbara Eden brings public attention. She has worked in entertainment for more than seven decades. Her most famous role remains Jeannie.

Her husband chose a different kind of life. He did not build a career in film or television. He worked in business, engineering, and real estate.

He has joined Eden at some events. Photos also show the couple together at public functions. Yet he has never tried to match her level of fame.

This difference has helped him keep a low profile. Most public stories about him focus on his marriage. His career records, however, show a much wider life.

Jon Eicholtz and Barbara Eden’s KU Scholarship

In 2014, Jon Eicholtz and Barbara Eden gave $300,000 to the University of Kansas. The gift created a scholarship for acting students.

The scholarship is called the Jon T. Eicholtz and Barbara Eden Acting Scholarship. It supports students in the university’s theatre program.

The award can help cover tuition, fees, books, room, and board. It can also be renewed for students who meet the rules of the program.

The gift joined both of their life stories. Eicholtz had studied at KU. Eden had spent her life in acting. The scholarship brought those two parts together.

Why Did the Couple Create the Scholarship?

The idea grew from Eicholtz’s link with the University of Kansas. He has said that KU gave him a strong base for his life and career.

He wanted to give something back. At the same time, the couple wanted the gift to connect with Eden’s work. Acting was the clear choice.

The scholarship now helps students who want to work on stage or screen. It gives them money for school costs. That can reduce the financial load on young actors.

This gift remains one of the clearest public examples of the couple’s charity work. It also links engineering, education, and acting in one project.

A Private Life Outside Hollywood

Jon Eicholtz has never become a regular Hollywood public figure. He does not have the same media presence as his wife. Most reports mention him only when they cover Eden.

That does not mean little is known about his work. University and industry records show a long career. They document major projects and senior company roles.

He also appears with Eden at selected public events. But he keeps most business and personal matters private. That has stayed true for many years.

Because of this, readers should be careful with online claims. Many sites repeat the same facts without a clear source. A good biography should use only details that can be checked.

Jon Eicholtz’s Professional Legacy

Jon Eicholtz built his career around large buildings and major business roles. His work on Commerce Tower and Sheraton Waikiki gives clear proof of that.

He also moved from project management into senior leadership. That change shows how his career grew over time. He later expanded into real estate development.

His work did not make him a celebrity. But it placed him inside major construction projects. It also gave him decades of business experience.

His later support for KU added another part to his legacy. The scholarship helps students start their own careers. It also keeps his link with the university active.

Final Thoughts

Jon Eicholtz is often introduced as Barbara Eden’s husband. That description is correct, but it tells only part of his story.

He trained as an architectural engineer. He managed major building projects. He later held senior company roles and worked in real estate.

His marriage to Barbara Eden began in 1991. More than three decades later, the couple remains together. They have also joined their names through charity work.

His public record is clear enough without using rumors. It shows a long career, a lasting marriage, and a strong link with education. Those verified facts give the best view of his life.

FAQs

What does Jon Eicholtz do?

He worked as an architectural engineer, construction manager, business leader, and real estate developer. His known projects include Commerce Tower and the Sheraton Waikiki. He also held senior jobs at construction companies.

When did Jon Eicholtz marry Barbara Eden?

He married Barbara Eden on January 5, 1991. Their wedding took place at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco. About 35 guests attended the ceremony.

Where did Jon Eicholtz go to college?

He studied at the University of Kansas. He earned a degree in architectural engineering in 1962. He later helped create a scholarship at the same university.

What was Jon Eicholtz’s role at Sheraton Waikiki?

He worked as project manager for the Sheraton Waikiki construction project. The hotel had about 1,800 rooms. It was one of the largest hotel projects of its time.

Did Jon Eicholtz and Barbara Eden create a scholarship?

Yes. They gave $300,000 to the University of Kansas in 2014. The money created an acting scholarship for students in the university’s theatre program.