Eugene William Erickson

Gene was born on October 3, 1931 in Nyack, NY to Clarence E. ‘Pete’ Erickson and Olga V. (von Helms) Erickson. He spent his youth working at Woodside Dairy, his father’s farm on Brick Church Road in what is now the Village of New Hempstead.

After attending Spring Valley High School he was enrolled in Mount Hermon College Preparatory School in Massachusetts. He spent a year at Union College in Schenectady, NY before transferring to the University of Chattanooga in Tennessee.

It was at UC in 1952 where he met the love of his life and his best friend Barbara Martha ‘Marty’ Slatery of Knoxville, TN. After a whirlwind romance the couple was wed at the UC Chapel on August 21, 1954.

After college and marriage, Gene entered the Platoon Leaders Course in the Marine Corps Reserves. They first moved to Fredericksburg, VA for Marine Corps Basic School at Quantico, VA then moved on to Camp LeJeune, NC. While stationed at Camp LeJeune he received orders to report to Boston for three months where he tried out for the 1956 US Olympic hockey team. After his service ended in August of 1956 they moved to Monsey, NY where Gene purchased Axt & Swanson Oldsmobile on Route 45 in Spring Valley which later became Erickson Oldsmobile, Jeep and Toyota of Rockland on Route 59 in Monsey.

Gene was very active in the community as a member of several service organizations including the Spring Valley Rotary Club serving as both the club President and District Governor, Athelstane Masonic Lodge, Rockland County Marine Corps League and volunteering time to deliver meals to the homebound for Meals on Wheels. Gene spent much of his spare time skiing, playing hockey, scuba diving, working on and driving vintage racecars and traveling with his RV.

Gene lived a full life filled with adventure, excitement, grace and will be sorely missed by all that knew and loved him. Gene is survived by his brother-in-law Patrick Slatery (Beth), son Randall (Heidi), daughter Jacqueline, step grandsons James (Caitlyn) and Jeffrey Zembriski, nephew Martin Slatery (Jody) and niece Katie Knelson (Ronald). Gene was predeceased earlier this year by his wife Barbara Martha ‘Marty’ (Slatery) Erickson.

Viewing will be at Wanamaker & Carlough Funeral Home, 177 Route 59, Suffern, NY on Thursday, December 20, 2018 from 2-4 pm and 6-8 pm. The funeral service will be on Friday, December 21, at 11 am at the Old Stone Church, 500 East Saddle River Road, Upper Saddle River, NJ with internment to follow at Brick Church Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, and according to Gene’s wishes, donations in his memory to Marine Corps Heritage Foundation, 18900 Jefferson Davis Highway, Triangle, VA 22172, toll free at 800-397-7585 or online at marineheritage.org, would be greatly appreciated.