John Eric Reddick

John Eric Reddick (Eric to those who knew him) was born on Tuesday, May 24, 1988 at 6:13 pm in Waukegan Illinois. From the very beginning he was a very audacious child! When he was 7 months old Eric and his mom moved back to Colorado. Eric spent the first 5 years of his life living with his mom and his Nana on Nana’s farm. Nana’s farm always proved to be a place of solace and tranquility for Eric up through his teen years.

In 1994 Danny Reddick walked into their lives. The bond between Eric and Danny was almost instant. Together they all moved to Aurora in the summer of 1994. In January 1996 Danny formally adopted Eric. From that moment on, their relationship as Father& Son was sealed – but their connection was immeasurable.

In the midst of this time Eric’s sister Emelie was born. He was drawn to her from the moment she was born and remained the forever protective Big Brother.

Eric attended elementary school in Aurora. Approaching 6th grade Eric and his family moved to Castle Rock. Eric was elated to move back to Castle Rock since it was closer to Nana’s farm.

He attended Rock Ridge Elementary for 6th grade, Castle Rock Middle School grades 7 & 8 and Douglas County High School for his freshman year. The balance of his High School “career” was completed at DC Oakes (He never understood why high school was referred to as a career). In 2003 Eric was awarded the Metropolitan Mayors & Commissioners Youth Award for all he had accomplished up to this point.

As for Eric’s career – that was gymnastics. He spent his first few years coaching at Omega until he found Lexy & the Castle Rock School of Gymnastics. The gym became his “home away from home” and the staff & his kids were his other family! The pride he felt for his students was enormous.

Throughout his life Eric always excelled at everything he did. Always a perfectionist he was forever the optimist. MVP of his football team year after year, Taekwondo, snowboarding, coaching, gymnastics, Frisbee golf, video games, hiking, fishing, playing the guitar . . . these were his interests. His cats, his family, the mountains & nature . . . these were his passion.

From the time Eric was a very young child he always had a thirst for knowledge. As he became a man his hunger only grew. At 27 he decided to enroll in college to pursue his life-long dream and obtain his Master’s degree in Geology with a minor in Archeology. He spoke of the travels he intended to take, the sites he wanted to see and the cultures he wanted to experience.

Few will argue that, at 27, he has left us much too early. This world, as we know it, was just not big enough to harness the energy that was Eric.

His smile was captivating, his laugh infectious, his heart generous, his soul gentle, his spirit fearless – Eric was bigger than life. Our lives are all much richer because we were allowed to be a part of his.

In celebration of the life & legacy of Eric Reddick, in lieu of flowers, we ask that a donation be made to the Colorado Nature Conservancy. You may send your donation by mail to Colorado Nature Conservancy 2424 Spruce St., Boulder, CO 80302, email [email protected] or you may donate online by visiting their website at www.nature.org/Colorado. Donations may be made in Eric's name. Thank you!