Dr. Robert Barry Erichson

A beloved hematologist-oncologist who cared for patients in Stamford for forty years, Robert Barry Erichson, 89, of Stamford, Connecticut, died on March 9, 2025. He will be remembered not only for his accomplishments in medicine, but also as the center of good conversation, contagious laughter, and good times.

Bob Erichson was born in New York in 1935 to Harry and Betty Erichson, and grew up playing stickball and punchball on the streets of Brooklyn. His parents, immigrants who never attended college, instilled in Bob both a love of fun and a love of education. He attended James Madison High School and Columbia University, where he served as editorials editor of the Columbia Spectator newspaper. He went on to Cornell Medical School and a distinguished career in medicine.

Bob met the love of his life, Elaine, when he was a college freshman and she was in high school. They married in 1957 and enjoyed a marriage of more than 67 years. They raised two children and had great adventures together, including making wonderful memories at Candlewood Lake in Connecticut. When grandchildren entered his life, they flocked to “Papa” because he was always the life of the party.

His medical career shifted early from a focus on research to clinical practice when he found how well-suited he was to patient care, but he continued to do research and co-authored a book on hematology and numerous medical journal articles. Early in his career, he was drafted into the U.S. Army and ran the army’s blood bank for Europe in Landstuhl, Germany, where he spent three years and rose to the rank of Major. Upon returning from the army, he joined a practice in Stamford as a hematologist and oncologist. Starting as a two-physician practice, they grew and became the preeminent hematology-oncology practice in the region, becoming the oncology practice of the Bennett Cancer Center. Among other honors and positions, he also served as Physician-in-Chief of Stamford Hospital.

Bob loved his Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Mets. He loved playing tennis, golf, and other sports. He will always be remembered for his hearty laugh and his extraordinary ability to live in the moment.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Harry and Betty Erichson, and by his sister Roslyn Emanuel, and is survived by his wife, Elaine Erichson, his sister, Carol Kane, his children, Laurie Leibowitz and Howie Erichson, and their spouses Barry Leibowitz and Sara Ann Erichson, and his grandchildren, Aaron Leibowitz, Danny MacColl-Erichson, Becca Leibowitz Taber, and Jake Erichson, and their spouses, Elisa MacColl-Erichson, Jake Taber, and Rachel Erichson.

A funeral will be held at Temple Beth El in Stamford on Thursday, March 13, 2025, at 11:00 a.m.

Shiva will be held Thursday, 2:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M. at Waterstone Senior Living, 215 High Ridge Road, Stamford, CT. Contributions may be made to Michael J. Fox Foundation, Bennet Cancer Center at Stamford Hospital, or Doctors Without Borders.