Robert J Erickson

Robert Joseph Erickson know as Bob was born on September 6, 1929, in Quincy, MA, died peacefully at the age of 95 ½ on March 12, 2025, in hospice care at Cape Cod Post Acute Care (f/k/a Pleasant Bay Skilled Nursing Facility) in Brewster. At the time of Bob’s death he resided in Orleans, MA.

At 18 1/5 years of age, Bob arrived in Eastham and immediately purchased “Bill’s Place” located at the former Sandpiper Restaurant location) with the help of his mother signing for the financing. Bob asked his sister Marie and her husband, William “Bill” Hokkanen to join in the venture where they ran the restaurant for many years.

During that same period, Bob built his first house in Eastham just northeast of the Nauset Light House, overlooking Nauset Light Beach.

In 1951, Bob married a Brewster girl, Elizabeth A. Williams, and they had five children Betsy Erickson, Anita Harris, Karen Burns, Joel Erickson and Christina Warren.

Bob joined the Army in 1951 as a Private First class and served the Army for two years. Bob was part of a covert morse code division stationed in Germany posing as part of a motor pool.

When Bob returned from service he began to build homes in earnest. While building during the day, Bob and friend Fred Carey ran vegetable stands during the summer months. Bob also delivered oil for Williams Oil of Brewster, and peddled oil after hours. Bob encouraged his good friend, John “Johnny” Cunningham, to relocate to Eastham to assist him with the excavation side of construction. Johnny often reports Bob has built over 300 houses in Eastham, Wellfleet, Orleans, Brewster and Hanover, MA.

During 1965 – 1966, Bob served the Town of Eastham as a Selectman. Bob was instrumental in welcoming the National Seashore Park to the Town of Eastham. Bob was very proud of his Town of Eastham and always worked towards what he thought was Eastham’s greater good.

On December 27, 1969, Bob married Margar “Ginger” A. Underhill in a building that he built housing the Fisherman Players of Cape Cod located in North Eastham. The ceremony was presided over by Richard D. Waters. Bob and Ginger lived in Orleans (in a house that Bob built) with Ginger’s three children from a prior marriage, Wendy Underhill, Karen LaVoie, and Michael Underhill.

Throughout his lifetime, Bob donated his platelets in whatever city he was closest to, most often at Mass General Hospital. He enjoyed music in whatever form, be it singing in a chorale, playing Baritone with the Chatham Band or singing a random hymn at any occasion..

Bob was a man with a vision for the future. Along with building hundreds of home on Cape Cod, Bob and Ginger also built and ran the Viking Motel, the Captain’s Quarters Motel and the Norseman Athletic Club all located in North Eastham. Bob and Ginger began traveling with student groups and continued to discover the world as they were able. They enjoyed reliving each trip through the scrap books they created.

During Bob’s continuous trips to Maine, he reconnected with cousin William Sandblom and his relatives in Friendship, Maine, who he helped reconnect with the Sandblom’s of Cape Cod. In 2012, Bob helped his good friend, Kevin Waters, owner of Penobscot Island Air by building a Mail, Express Mail and Luggage Depot at the airport to assist in Kevin’s air service to ten different ports of call.

Bob said many times that he never felt like he worked a day in his life. He loved building and creating and it was a joy to head out to start each day. Bob was a man of firm conviction, and you always knew where you stood. He worked hard and diligently on every task he undertook. He was blunt, assertive, honest and took no nonsense but would give you the shirt off his back if it would help a friend in need. You didn’t always agree with Bob, but that was okay. His mind was always working on the next plan of action even if the next plan of action would not come to be. He will be missed by many.

Bob is predeceased by his daughter, Betsy Erickson, his brother and sisters, Arthur Erickson, Marie Hokkanen, Evelyn Newton and by Karen’s LaVoie’s husband, Jeffrey. He is survived by his wife, Ginger Erickson, his children and their spouses, Anita Harris (Michael), Karen Burns (Steven), Joel Erickson (Betty) and Christina Warren; His step-children, Wendy Underhill, Karen LaVoie, and Michael Underhill (Geri); along with many grandchildren and great grandchildren who he loved dearly.

A memorial service will be held on April 12, 2025 at the Eastham United Methodist Church at 1:00 – 1:30 pm followed by visitation in the Church Hall from 1:30-3:30 pm, located at 3200 State Hwy, Eastham, MA 02642. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Cape Cod Regional Tech School Construction Division.