Hello everyone:

There is so much that can be said but I will limit myself to a few experiences which Eric and I shared memories I know Eric valued.

In the mid 1950's the family spent much of our summers on our boat in the Stockholm archipelago not least jigging for cod laying nets or fishing for pike. This interest for the outdoors followed Eric when we emigrated to the US and the outdoors became a significant part of his life. First camping and fishing for crayfish later hunting in Eastern Washington both sitting in a duck blind outside Royal City, what was then corn fields but now are vineyards, as well as in alfalfa fields hunting pheasants with more or less help from his dogs.

I remember oyster picking, clam digging and mushroom picking on Hood Canal and sharing the rewards with many of his friends. I remember Eric catching a 44lb Salmon on Shilshole Bay from a sailboat without a net, fishing for halibut in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, catching salmon in Westport and not least our fly-in to Rivers Inlet in northern Canada for the really big fish. 

Eric also spent several years as a commercial fisherman fishing an area from Seattle, up the inside passage to southern Alaska.
Eric had other interests too.   He began soon after our arrival in Seattle with a paper route which he developed into several combined routes in the U-district where he became a successful salesman of subscriptions activities which provided him with funds to by his first car that he had to park around the block so the folks wouldn't know, but a purchase he could confide in his kid brother. Naturally he took his driver's license on his 16th birthday, since he already had a fair amount of driving experience. His mobility allowed him to take a job as an event photographer, photographing many school dances and fraternity functions. 

On his last trip to Sweden and Finland, with both Meggie and Kristina along, we had a chance for the first time in fifty years for all four brothers to reunite at the same time. I know that meant a lot to us all.   Eric also had the opportunity to visit a few old but familiar places and to spend some time boating. 

Long live his memory.

Dear all:



Bjorn Eric von Haartman is my cousin; my mother and his father were siblings. Both our families emigrated to the United States from Sweden, his to Seattle and mine to Berkeley. 




When I moved to Seattle in 1974 I came to know Eric and after college I worked with him extensively. I helped him build my house on 58th!




We became close friends and remained so, though after I started working in Alaska time and distance separated us. Eric and his family were always good company in many different settings, - holidays, picnics, mountain excursions, crawdadding, camping, and all. So, our families were very close for many years and in Cathy's (day) care, our Michael and Maria grew up with Jon, Anders, Meggie, and Kristina.




Eric led his entire life with honor, love, and a great wit. I am glad I was his friend.




Best wishes to Cathy, Jon, Meggie, Anders, and Kristina

Dear all:

BjvH was a great guy to friends however remote.  Most memorable was sharing a sauna evening and rolling around outside in a freak Seattle snow.  So sad to be out of touch with him during is later in life struggles.  Best wishes to his family.

Dave Fluharty

OBITUARY

Bjorn Eric Von Haartman

July 31, 1942 – June 1, 2016

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