Joseph Matthew Sexton

Joseph (Eric) Sexton passed away on Wednesday, February 26, 2014. He was born in Newark, New Jersey, June 2, 1948, to Joseph and Marian Sexton and is survived by his wife of 28 years Dawn Melvin. He is also survived by two sisters and a brother, Maryann Smith (Alan), Kate Sexton (Sand Hicks), Richard Sexton (Diane) and many nieces and nephews.

Eric was a kind man known and appreciated for his fine cooking skills, sense of humor, wit and easy-going personality. He enjoyed speaking with young people, who he mentored in life skills and finance throughout his banking career. His wife Dawn was his greatest love. They enjoyed spending time with family, being in nature and traveling together. Eric was humble, yet accomplished earning a Ph.D. in French Literature from Pennsylvania State University.

Eric traveled throughout Europe and moved to Arizona in 1978 as a VISTA volunteer initially based at the Phoenix Indian Center. This work was very meaningful to him and led to his life-long commitment to the American Indian community, most recently volunteering with Arizona Indian Living Treasures Awards and serving on the board of the Hopi Education Endowment Fund.

Family and friends are invited to an informal gathering to celebrate Eric’s life to be held in Phoenix, AZ on Saturday, March 8th from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. A private burial set at the family ranch at Sonsela, Arizona, will take place a later date.

Memorial donations may be made in Eric’s honor to Arizona Indian Living Treasures Awards (www.ailta.org) or the Hopi Education Endowment Fund (www.hopieducationfund.org).