Stephen John Erickson

On Thursday, March 10, 2022, Stephen Erickson, happy, devoted husband and father, passed away at the age of 64 from colon cancer at home with his wife and love of his life, Melanie Paykos, and family at his side. An adoring father, Stephen leaves his three children, Kira Rain, Thelonius, and Javier, who remember him as full of light and laughter and for his quick wit, clever game strategy and dad jokes.

Stephen was born in Los Angeles, California on February 14, 1958, just as full of love as his Valentine birthday would suggest. He was the son of Kathryn and George Erickson and has a younger sister, Lisa Kasselik in addition to his extended family of siblings Don Gullans, Karen Brown, Lois Huckins and Enid Rossi. For his entire family and wide circle of friends, Steph overflowed with compassion and positivity.

He received two B.A. degrees from the University of California, San Diego in Visual Arts and Economics, and received a Masters of Fine Arts in Film and Television from the graduate film school at the University of California, Los Angeles. Stephen wrote and directed his first feature film The Stonecutter in 2000 and went on to have a fulfilling career as an entertainment executive, screenwriter, and ultimately author. Stephen loved telling stories and was a passionate environmental and animal rights advocate. His first book The Great Healing was positively reviewed and received multiple awards. His most recently completed book, Regenerative Agriculture - The Climate Change Solution, was the culmination of his work on climate change solutions. The book is currently with Congressman Earl Blumenauer on Capitol Hill, who wrote the forward. The Congressman is using it to increase awareness of the importance of transitioning American farmlands to regenerative farming as the solution to climate change for inclusion in the next Farm Bill — the passage of which was a dream of Stephen's.

A steadfast optimist, Stephen shared with his family in his final days that he had not only lived a full, joyful life, but that the past two years had been his best.

His favorite place for contemplation was Meditation Mount in Ojai CA. To make a donation in his memory for the sustainability of Meditation Mount visit: Donate to Meditation Mount (see donation link below) or visit meditationmount.org/donate. All donations are tax-deductible. Meditation Mount's Tax ID number 06-6054153.

Yours in compassionate activism,

The family of Stephen J. Erickson