RICHARD W. ERIKSON ’54
It is with great sadness that I am writing to inform you of the death of my father, RICHARD W. ERIKSON. Richard passed away on September 11, 2005 after a brief, but valiant fight with lung cancer. He was active and involved with his family until the end, including sightseeing with several grandchildren in Manhattan on August 24th and spending the day at the beach with other grandchildren as recently as September 2nd. After several months of a persistent cough, Richard was admitted to the hospital on September 3rd and was diagnosed with lung cancer.
Richard enjoyed a full life. Richard worked his way up through the ranks at IBM starting right out of college in the accounts payable department where he held several positions until joining Electric Typewriter/Time Systems sales administration ? the precursor to the World Trade Office Products Division. Through due diligence and hard and dedicated work, Richard retired after 35 years with IBM as an Advisory Planner in the High Volume Products Operations in the IBM World Trade Americas Group. Over his 35 years with IBM, Richard enjoyed the excitement and challenges of an international business environment.
After an early retirement at age 55, Richard embarked on his second career, one he would rather not have chosen but never-the-less thoroughly embraced caregiver to his beloved wife Margaret who had been stricken by MS several years earlier. During his tenure as caregiver, Margaret and Richard had their dream retirement home constructed and they enjoyed the time at the shore together for many years until Margaret?s passing in 2002. At that time, Richard took the opportunity to really become his own person, and while lonely without Margaret, started to enjoyed the company of close friends and family.
In addition to Richard?s two careers, he was quite involved in the community. Over the years his involvement included Treasurer of the IBM Employee Club; Treasurer of WHCC; Board of Directors of PBC; Board of Directors of HRLH; Treasurer, Deacon/Trustee and Choir Member of the First Lutheran Church, Kearny, NJ; Treasurer, Auditor, Stewardship Committee and Choir Member of Nativity Lutheran Church, East Brunswick, NJ; Troop Committee Member Boy Scouts of America, East Brunswick, NJ; Auditor, Finance Committee, Teller and Choir Member at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Brookfield, CT; Finance Committee, Church Council and Choir Member at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Beachwood, NJ; Treasurer of the Senior Men?s Club, Pine Beach, NJ.
Richard is survived by his son William Erikson, grandchildren Jon, Evan and Caroline Erikson of Forked River, NJ; son and daughter-in-law Frederick and Lisa Erikson, grandchildren Frederick and Patrick Erikson of Williamsport, PA; and daughter and son-in-law Suzanne and Jeremy Bidwell, and grandchildren Nathaniel and Samuel Bidwell of Bloomfield, CT.
Services were held on September 15, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Beachwood, NJ with internment at Good Luck Cemetery, Lanoka Harbor, NJ. Richard will be greatly missed by those who knew him. Donations in his memory may be sent to St. Paul Lutheran Church Memorial Fund in Beachwood, NJ where Richard was an active member in the Choir and Church Council.
It is with great sadness that I am writing to inform you of the death of my father, RICHARD W. ERIKSON. Richard passed away on September 11, 2005 after a brief, but valiant fight with lung cancer. He was active and involved with his family until the end, including sightseeing with several grandchildren in Manhattan on August 24th and spending the day at the beach with other grandchildren as recently as September 2nd. After several months of a persistent cough, Richard was admitted to the hospital on September 3rd and was diagnosed with lung cancer.
Richard enjoyed a full life. Richard worked his way up through the ranks at IBM starting right out of college in the accounts payable department where he held several positions until joining Electric Typewriter/Time Systems sales administration, the precursor to the World Trade Office Products Division. Through due diligence and hard and dedicated work, Richard retired after 35 years with IBM as an Advisory Planner in the High Volume Products Operations in the IBM World Trade Americas Group. Over his 35 years with IBM, Richard enjoyed the excitement and challenges of an international business environment.
After an early retirement at age 55, Richard embarked on his second career, one he would rather not have chosen but never-the-less thoroughly embraced ? caregiver to his beloved wife Margaret who had been stricken by MS several years earlier. During his tenure as caregiver, Margaret and Richard had their dream retirement home constructed and they enjoyed the time at the shore together for many years until Margaret’s passing in 2002. At that time, Richard took the opportunity to really become his own person, and while lonely without Margaret, started to enjoyed the company of close friends and family.
In addition to Richard?s two careers, he was quite involved in the community. Over the years his involvement included Treasurer of the IBM Employee Club; Treasurer of WHCC; Board of Directors of PBC; Board of Directors of HRLH; Treasurer, Deacon/Trustee and Choir Member of the First Lutheran Church, Kearny, NJ; Treasurer, Auditor, Stewardship Committee and Choir Member of Nativity Lutheran Church, East Brunswick, NJ; Troop Committee Member Boy Scouts of America, East Brunswick, NJ; Auditor, Finance Committee, Teller and Choir Member at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Brookfield, CT; Finance Committee, Church Council and Choir Member at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Beachwood, NJ; Treasurer of the Senior Men?s Club, Pine Beach, NJ.
Richard is survived by his son William Erikson, grandchildren Jon, Evan and Caroline Erikson of Forked River, NJ; son and daughter-in-law Frederick and Lisa Erikson, grandchildren Frederick and Patrick Erikson of Williamsport, PA; and daughter and son-in-law Suzanne and Jeremy Bidwell, and grandchildren Nathaniel and Samuel Bidwell of Bloomfield, CT.
Services were held on September 15, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Beachwood, NJ with internment at Good Luck Cemetery, Lanoka Harbor, NJ. Richard will be greatly missed by those who knew him. Donations in his memory may be sent to St. Paul Lutheran Church Memorial Fund in Beachwood, NJ where Richard was an active member in the Choir and Church Council.