Erickson, Robert C.
By Canton CitizenRobert C. Erickson of Clifton, Maine, formerly of Foxboro and New Jersey, passed away at the Maine VA Nursing Home in Bangor on October 9, 2013, after a long illness. He was 92.
Born June 27, 1921, in Glen Ridge, New Jersey, he was the son of Siegfried and Marion (Conover) Erickson. He graduated from Verona High School in New Jersey in 1939. That same year Bob was employed with the Fireman’s Insurance Company in Newark, New Jersey.
A veteran of World War II, he served in the U.S. Army from 1940 to 1945 in the Aleutian Islands and Italy, spending two years with the 199th Field Artillery Battalion and three years with the famed 10th Mountain Division. He was awarded the Asiatic-Pacific and the European Medals with three Battle Stars and two Bronze Stars. From 1947 to 1951, he served in the New Jersey National Guard and was discharged at the rank of Sergeant Major.
After the war, he worked as a trade carpenter, a carpenter foreman and a building superintendent of construction.
He was a full-time representative of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America, serving as district secretary of the Essex County New Jersey District Council.
Under President Lyndon Johnson’s Administration he was an active member of a National Political Action Committee.
He was also employed as a purchasing agent with the John Langenbacher Company in Bronx, New York, and the Walter Kidde Construction Company where he assisted in building the Tuy Hoa Air Base in Vietnam during the Vietnam War.
In later years, he was a technical assistant acting as a liaison between the Massachusetts Department of Manpower and Development State Training and the Massachusetts Building and Construction Trades Council-AFL/CIO, where he was involved with prevailing wage rates for workers.
Employed by the commonwealth of Massachusetts, he acted as a general construction inspector along with being a political advisor to then Governor Francis Sargent. A former Mason and Shriner, he was also a 60-year member of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America.
In 1985 he retired to Clifton, where he was a great lover of the trees on his property. He also hosted the CHS boys’ soccer team at his home every August for many years and cheered on the Bulldogs in their annual preseason game against Ellsworth High School.
Bob is survived by his loving wife, Marlene (Stitham) Erickson, of Clifton, and his only brother, Philip Erickson of Plattsburg, NY. He was predeceased by his beloved wife Searle (Hogg) Erickson.
He was also predeceased by two sons, Gary and Randy, and by his sister, Ellen Cunningham.
He is survived by three sons: Jeffrey W. and his wife, Beth, of Canton; John A. and his wife, Diane, of Dorchester; and William and his wife, Gloria, of Tiverton, RI; and four daughters: Barbara Erickson of Hollywood, FL; Pamela Ellis and her husband, Al, of Roswell, GA; Wendy Erickson Wilbur and her husband, Cliff, of Bangor; and Kimba Erickson and her partner, Cat, of Quincy.
He leaves behind 16 grandchildren: Annette Medor of Burlington, VT; Danny Erickson of Canton, Kristin Erickson of Easton, Andy Erickson of Duxbury, Gary Erickson of Easton, Elizabeth Hoagland of New York City, Kate Hoagland of Los Angeles, CA; David Hoagland of Washington, DC; Christopher Hoagland of North Carolina; Connor, Kait and Emily Erickson, all of Canton; Nicholas Hoagland of Los Angeles; Deanna and Monica Wilbur of Bangor; and Ava Erickson of Tiverton, RI.
He was the proud great-grandfather of Amberly, Kiley and Brady Erickson of Duxbury; Luke and Natalie Erickson of Canton; and Lilly Erickson of Easton.
He is also survived by three stepsons: Robbie Harper of Clifton, Michael Harper of Sanford, ME, and Daniel Harper of Tallahassee, FL.
A memorial service was held on October 12 at the Clifton Baptist Church. A memorial service will be held in Massachusetts at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations in Bob’s memory may be made to the Clifton Baptist Church.
Short URL: https://www.thecantoncitizen.com/?p=22696
Posted by Canton Citizen
on Oct 17 2013. Filed under Obituaries.
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