Richard H. 'Dick' Erickson

• 

Erickson, Richard H. "Dick" Age 77, of Wethersfield, CT & Naples, FL, the beloved husband of Sheri Erickson, passed away on Saturday, January 28, 2017 at Saint Francis Hospital after a 2 1/2 year battle with Metastatic Melanoma. Born in Minneapolis, MN on March 31, 1939 he was the son of the late Benjamin and Helen (Carlson) Erickson. He was raised in Anoka, MN and was a graduate of Anoka High School, class of 1957. He went on to graduate from the University of Minnesota where he received a full scholarship for basketball and was a starter and captain of the Golden Gophers Basketball team. He was a member of the Theta Chi Fraternity and played trumpet in a dance band for parties. In the early 60s he started his career as a salesperson for Kaiser Aluminum and he, along with his wife and daughter moved to Cleveland, Ohio. After two years he was transferred to Connecticut where they have since made their home and raised a family of three. He played basketball with the Harlem Magicians team for a couple of years and traveled around the New England area. Dick started his own metals company in the late 60s and successfully expanded it to three other states: Minnesota, Colorado and New Mexico. He never retired. He was involved in several clubs in Wethersfield, and played golf and tennis for many years. He was a member of Pine Acres Swim Club and was a member of Wethersfield Country Club for over 45 years. Dick was a huge New England Patriots and Minnesota Vikings fan. He had a passion for traveling and has traveled the world with his wife and friends. Dick and Sheri have spent their winters in Naples, FL since 1999 and summers in Connecticut. He was often heard using the words, "just enjoy your life." Some of his deepest passions included taking his grandchildren to sporting events and to Disneyworld, as well as returning to Minnesota to hunt and fish with his brothers, which he did a couple of times each year. He coached basketball and soccer in Wethersfield and traveled to Europe with the soccer teams. He was very involved with all of his children and their activities, never missing a game, a tennis match, a gym meet, diving competitions, swim meets, etc. His grandchildren have been the light of his life and they call him PaPa, which he loved. Besides his wife, he leaves two daughters, Tammy Erickson Varney (Herman Backiel) of Rocky Hill and Plainville, Shellee E. Fas (Alex) of Guatemala City, Guatemala and a son, Troy Erickson (Kerry) of Hingham, MA. He leaves 9 grandchildren: Michael Varney (Isabelle Baranski) of Cromwell and Rocky Hill, Daniel Varney, a student at UConn, Lindsay Varney, a student at LMU in Los Angeles, CA, Isabel Fas of Naples, FL, Raquel Fas, a student at Johnson and Wales University in Providence, RI, Alex Fas, a student at Suffolk University in Boston, MA, Flynn Erickson, Gavin Erickson and Katelyn Erickson, all students in Hingham, MA. Dick also leaves two brothers, Bob Erickson of Coon Rapids, MN, and Jim (Carol) Erickson of Brainerd, MN, as well as several nieces, nephews and cousins. In addition to his parents, he is predeceased by a brother Bill Erickson and two nephews, Steve and Christopher Erickson. Family will receive friends on Friday, February 3, 2017 from 4-7 p. m. at the D'Esopo Funeral Chapel, 277 Folly Brook Blvd., Wethersfield, CT. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, February 4, 2017 at 11:30 a.m. in the Church of the Incarnation, 544 Prospect St., Wethersfield. The family would like to thank Dr. Keith T. Flaherty of Mass General Hospital for all he did to make Dick's journey with this disease as comfortable for him as possible. Memorial donations may be made in Richard's name to Saint Francis Hospital, Smilow Cancer Center, 114 Woodland St., Hartford, CT 06105. Condolences: desopo.com

Published on January 30, 2017