Monday, March 21 - A piece of me is missing...
Lyn again. I am so sorry I cannot contact each of you personally. The flow of love and support from all of you is amazing.
Eric passed away on Saturday evening, March 19th, just after 8 o'clock. He died here at home with his mom and I at his side and surrounded by family.
A memorial will be held on Saturday, March 26th. Calling hours are from 11 am to 12 pm at the Bringhurst Funeral Home/West Laurel Hill Cemetery's Chapel of Peace, 215 Belmont Ave., Bala Cynwyd, PA. A farewell service will immediately follow at noon.
Eric requested that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Wellness Community of Philadelphia, Suzanne Morgan Center at Ridgeland, Chamounix Drive, West Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, PA 19131; www.twcp.org, or to the World Wildlife Fund, 1250 Twenty-Fourth Street NW, P.O. Box 97180, Washington, DC 20090-7180; www.worldwildlife.org.
My husband was the most amazing person I ever met. I am a different, better person because of him. I hope you will remember him fondly, too.
posted by L @ 4:41 PM
25 comments
25 Comments:
I am SO Sorry Lyn. I just feel terrible not being able to get there in time to say goodbye to a great friend like Eric. John Cusimano
Lyn:
Words can not express how much Eric will be missed, by his friends, his family and most of all by you.
If there is anything I can do...
I'm trying to get to town for Saturday. Thank you for loving him so completely.
- Cheryl.
Candace speaks for me, too - and probably for most of us. My hurt hurts quite a lot.
Lyn, as much as none of us wanted to ever see this post, I think Eric would have liked that you continued to use his blog to communicate with us. Appropriate words are hard to choose right now, but still, you took the time and fortitude to write. Thank you very much for that.
"And when he shall die,
take him and cut him into little stars,
and he will maake the face of heaven so fine,
that all the world will fall in love with night,
and pay no worship to the garish sun".
Eric made a big impact on a lot of people, both before and since his illness. He's taught us all to live life to its fullest (if you can)!
His pain is no more. God has a place for him now, and he called him home.
Hopefully Lyn, you can take some comfort from the fact that both you and Eric will always be in our thoughts and prayers, and that we all want only the best for you in the future.
bev
I knew Eric once. My respect for Eric was created by the person he was to me. He never judged me and appreciated my qualities that others could not understand. Eric was one of the first people in my life, by action, said it was ok to be you. It was ok to express your creativity and not care what others thought. I was nearly 10 years younger then, but he had a big influence on me. That is a testament to the human he was and the spirit he will be to all of us.
God Bless his family and those who loved him deeply.
-David
Eric was an amazing person, and I am honored and blessed to have called him my friend. I will miss him, but he will forever be a part of me. Lyn, I love you very much, and if you need anything please ask. My thoughts are with you and your family.
Ellen
I know an another amazing person and her name is Lyn. I love her very much and I'm proud to call her my sister.
Lyn: Lump in throat and void in heart, I too am so saddened and yes angry that the world can be so cruel. We have been sharing many memories and no doubt those memories will continue to make me laugh and bring me joy. mark
Lyn, May God embrace You, Eric and his family at this time of sadness. Eric fought an uphill battle and never seemed to loose his sense of humor or his spirit. Our thoughts and prayers. Thank you for taking the time to let us know.
Lyn:
I wish word could express how sorry I am for your loss. Eric was the kindest, funniest, and one of the wierdest guys I ever met and I will always hold him in my memory in just that respect. I will miss him.
John Caldwell
Gummy Sharks hanging from x-mas trees, auction box lots, Babaganoush, the Suede Shack, Beenie Babies on eBay, “Yeng Yengs”, Ferrets, “Itsa da Galliano”, Running across Bethlehem Pike at midnight illegally dumping an old mattress, drinking 40s with determination, “Is this your homework, Larry??”, slicing off 15th fairway and hitting a SEPTA bus, Yeng Yengs again, “…how much cheese you put in your cheese sandwich”, Hummus, A Subaru with the words Franklin Institute written across the side, Taking a day off from work just to listen to a cool or new CD, beerz and wingz.
Miss you, buddy.
Bob H
Getting me in trouble in English class, The Franklin Institute mobile, late night Wendy's runs, lawn gnomes, lawn sheep, lawn geese, the Suede Shack, trips to the Mayfair diner, introducing me to cool music.... I am going to miss ya, you big, crazy nut. Keep them laughing up there, Eric! You certainly made my life a lot more interesting and fun.
I wish I could be there on Saturday, Lyn. Know that you are in my prayers and if you need anything, even talk, I am here.
Joe Norton
My friend I will see you again in the Perfect Place above and we will laugh our ass's off to eternity. Until then, I will hold and cherish all those past funny memories you provided through the years.
Always your bud,
E-MAN
This was from Eric:
Hi Linda-
It was great talking to you on Friday. You really got me thinking about all the legal stuff that we should be planning.
Like I told you on the phone, I'm completely ignorant to most of this. A little advice goes a long way.
We will talk to my doctor about a living will tomorrow.
You mentioned that you might be able to e-mail me a pdf of the newest form? That would be great. The one on the state web site still has Gov Ridge listed as acting governor.
Sorry to cancel on a visit this past weekend, but with my mother-in-law here and other things it just wasn't a good time.
But let's try to plan for another time. I'd love to see you and Bobby.
And thank you for being a good friend. It means more to me than you know.
Cheers
Eric
I am sorry that I didn't get to see him again, but I know that he was surrounded by friends and family constantly. Am happy I was able to offer some general thoughts on the end of things, or the beginning of the next big thing. I am used to talking to people terminally ill with AIDS from my last job and now I work with care amanagers for the elderly, but I never anticipated speaking about end-of-life decision-making with my friends, my age. It was hard and I cried and he helped me get through talking about it - he helped me! In addition to Eric, I know the news this week has us all thinking about this, but I know that Eric was happy and I am honored that I was able to offer what little assistance I could, but I wish I didn't have to. No one likes to think about it, but I am glad he had the chance to have his wishes made known.
Ok. My Best to Lynn. Call me if you need anything.
Eric meant a great deal to me, as he surely did to anyone who knew him; a genuinely kind and compassionate person who could always find ways to make me laugh. I am glad to have had such a great friend. From making each other laugh through high school, or into the wee hours at the Mayfair Diner, all the way through the years at the Suede Shack and beyond, Eric will always be an influential and inspirational part of my life.
It was great having Eric as a roommate at PSU. I can remember drinking Galiano and Mad dog, playing wiffle beer, and watching tons of Beavis and Butthead. We made sure our last semester was a memorable one. I am glad I got the chance to see Eric one last time. I will never forget that sense of humor. You always had me laughing.
Your friend,
Meltz
To this day I can't help laughng out loud when I think about Eric and our days in High School. From cooing pigeons, to lawn ornaments, I will never forget Eric.
Lyn, although we never met, I'm very sorry for your loss. Eric was a wonderful person, and he will be missed.
Michael Porreca
God, I miss you...your spirit, your gentle, genuine and generous soul. Your wacky ways, your witty humor, your passion for life and nature, plants and creatures, large and small.
There was always a warmness about you, something so pure and authentic -- just being in your company and I was immediately at ease, at peace, completely understood and accepted.
Youtaught me so many things, from the silly to the sublime… What it means to be open and honest, patient and completely non-judgmental. To always, boldly and unapologetically, be yourself. With you, I learned for the first time in my life how to trust someone whole-heartedly. You were and will always be the first deep and true love of my life.
Without you, how would I have learned about the gummy shark and its many uses? Sure, in its natural state, it’s a cute and tasty snack. But who would have known that, once petrified, how festively the gummy shack can adorn a Christmas tree? (Just don’t think of throwing them out after the holidays are over…hee-hee).
You’ve showed me that that the kitchen need not be a scary place and that it can be fun to experiment with with food, from your mostly hits –- that famous hummus! -- to your occasional miss – the “corn-nut-encrusted eggplant” incident comes to mind.
You made me laugh like no one else. I can never look at a monkey without thinking of you. Ever Vonnegut novel in my bookcase reminds me of you. So do sequoia trees, nature specials about Australia and New Zealand, music, music, music…so many kinds.
I have just so many wonderful memories:
- Wacky parties and theme-movie nights at The Suede Shack.
- Lazy summer weekends taking in the beauty and serenity of your family’s cabin -- fishing for sunnies, searching for tadpoles, just watching hummingbirds gather at the feeder. Not a care in the world. Nature all around.
- Just the sight of your smile, those adorable dimples, laughing blue eyes and those crazy waves of gray hair that I found so damned attractive!
- Saturdays spent bidding on $1.00 odd-lots of crap and/or untold treasures at Bonnie Brae. Chuckling at the locals and regulars.
- Dancing like nuts. (You could really swing-dance, I’d just fake it.)
- Playing “find the raisin” with Diggy.
- Letting yourself be one of my first yoga students(um, guinea pigs). Never making fun of some of the crazy postures I put you though.
I'll miss you, friend. I miss you already. -- Melissa
"Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted."
Take comfort in knowing that all whose lives Eric has touched are better for the knowing.
Lyn, I admire your strengh and unconditional love. Some live a lifetime without having the Blessings of such a love.
Please do honor by you and Eric's love and live rest of your life fully. You deserve great thimgs.
Love, Darnetta
Lyn-
I am SO sorry to hear of your loss. Eric was an extraordinary person and I am very thankful to have known him. I only wish I could have said goodbye to a wonderful friend, and tell him how much he meant to me. He was an inspiration to us all, no matter how bad things were, he always made sure the people around him were smiling. My heart is full of pain, but now he feels no pain and is in the graces of God where now he will live peacefully. My condolences to you, your family and his.
Your friend always,
Ric Hagelin
I just happened to come across Eric's obituary while looking for the details of a family friend's service. I am in shock and still at a loss of words, other than to send my condolences to Lyn and both her family and Eric's family. I am a friend of Eric's from high school and have spent the last few hours reminiscing about all of the good times we had together. Eric was always one to make you laugh, or to tell a good story. I only wish that I could have been there to do the same for him through his illness. We had, unfortunately, lost touch over the years. You will be missed, old friend!
A.J.
Lyn, you don't know me, but I was a friend of Eric's in at PSU. Eric was the kind of person who could make me laugh without even trying with his uncanny and ironically intellectual wit. I'll always remember the night of the Galliano shots at the "Erics" apartment - I laughed so hard.
I just want you to know that even people you never met are thinking about you and mourning the loss of a good person.
Andi Sherlock (Redwitz)
I feel fortunate to have gotten to know Eric just a little through his friendship with Jenn. What short time we spent in each other's company was always filled with laughter and Eric-type silliness. He taught me to not be afraid of eBay, and I taught him the importance of always being prepared when you're going to have a "Kick the Dead Tree's Ass" party. I think he'd still be out there with a handsaw...:-) There are so many other memories that I know Eric and Jenn (and most of you all, too) have shared...too many to mention, but enough to make you smile a little.
I know Jenn will miss you terribly, E, as will all of us. The world is just a bit dimmer without you in it.
Lyn, you are very much in our thoughts, and if there's anything you need, please ask.
~Mike
Lyn,
Eric was such as amazing man. I attended St Martin of Tours and La Salle with him. In grade school, I remember we would tape mock radio shows, ala Dr. Demento, and we would trade them back and forth. He was always so amazing. His wit and intelligence were astounding. He was hard to keep up with. He seemed so beyond his years. God bless you and your family.
Fran McCloskey
(McCloskey71@aol.com)
(I only just learned of his death today from Damon Levine, a fellow classmate from La Salle. I'm sorry this is so belated, but I didn't keep in touch. I wish I could have spoken to him one more time.)
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