Students for a Democratic Society (SDS)

In Memory of Edward Oscar "Rick" Erickson

July 26, 1944 - February 17, 2018

Edward Oscar "Rick" Erickson passed away after a 4-year fight with Multiple Myeloma.

A great father, partner and friend, Rick will be missed by all those around him.

Rick was born on July 26, 1944 in Akron, Ohio to Levona and Edward Erickson. Rick grew up in Akron with his older sister Tanya Marie Erickson (Maggos), before attending college first at the Ohio State University and later at Kent State University. At Kent State he became active in the anti-war movement, finding himself in a leadership role in the school's chapter of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS). Yes, he was part of the Kent State group of students shot on May 1970. He knew all those who died. After several confrontations over his activism with the school's administration as well as local law enforcement, Rick was forced to leave Kent State without finishing his degree in Philosophy.

After a period of wanderlust, Rick settled down in Seattle, Washington in 1971. Finding work in the produce industry, Rick worked for the original PCC before moving on to manage the produce department of several QFCs in Seattle (including Interbay, Wallingford, and University Village). Rick was active in his union's leadership (UFCW local 1105) throughout the 1980's, serving as a steward and as an elected board member. While cherishing his interactions with local independent famers in his early years in the industry. Rick was decidedly less enthusiastic with the changes to sourcing that occurred after a series of mergers / acquisitions brought QFC into the portfolio of national grocery chain Kroger. Rick retired in 2005, after over thirty years of service. After retirement Rick took on a role as retiree coordinator for the local UFCW21. He was also represented UFCW21 as an Executive Board member of Puget Sound Advocates for Retirement Action (PSARA). He served on the Attorney General's Advisory Committee to the Public Counsel until his cancer diagnosis.

Rick is survived by his two children; Tanya Jean Cram, currently living in Cashmere, WA, and Reid Erickson, currently living in Seattle, WA. He coached both kids in a variety of sports in their youth and rarely missed a soccer, softball, baseball, or basketball game.

In addition to his two children, Rick is survived by his partner, Sharon Harris, whom he met in 2004. Sharon and Rick enjoyed traveling, discussion groups (coffee and politics), and spending time with their family. Both were active in the fight to preserve Medicare and Social Security, creating a socially-engaged dynamic duo. Rick's family grew during his time with Sharon, as he formed a familial relationship with Sharon's sons Matt and Michael Harris and Curtis Stevens, and their respective families.

Rick will also be remembered as Grandpa by Haley and Copper Cram, Isabelle and Evan Harris, Gabe and Phoenix Stevens, as well as Jack and Charlie Erickson, and as my person by his cat Riley.

A Memorial Service will be held on April 14, 2018 at twelve noon at the Edmonds Unitarian Universalist Congregation,

Also, if the FBI reads this, you may close his file.

Solidarity Forever! Please show your support for the organizations below in Rick's memory:

PSARA (Puget Sound Advocates for Retirement Action), or Social Security Works, or Equal Opportunity Institute, UFCW21

Published in The Seattle Times on Mar. 25, 2018

STATEMENT FOR RICK ERICKSON'S MEMORIAL

I was active and very close with Rick during our days as activists in the Kent State chapter of Students for a Democratic Society--Kent sds. Rick, Candy, and I lived together during the height of our Kent sds involvement, the 1968-69 school year. I last saw Rick about ten years ago. He and I took a wonderful walk through a beautiful Seattle park and he took me to one of his favorite lunch spots on the water. I cherish those last moments I spent with Rick. We talked openly and honestly about things past and present, great times and some not so great times we had lived through together. Life is a journey with its ups and downs and it brought me great joy that Rick and I could speak of all of it together. Forty years after our youthful Kent State days, there we were. Lifelong friends.

Rick and I were friends before the sds days. One day, it must have been 1966 or 1967, Rick came over to my apartment and we watched, with horror, as TV news reported that thousands more US troops would be committed to the war in Vietnam. Rick stared at the TV screen, his eyes and attention fully fixed on General Westmoreland, who was proudly proclaiming the need for an escalation in the carnage in Vietnam. Rick cut a stark pose standing there, the long off-white trench coat he often wore framing his tall body; his sunglasses, long hair, and bold mustache defining his face. How we dressed and cut our hair (or didn't!) was a way we set ourselves apart as cultural and political rebels in conservative middle America Ohio, and Rick was no different. His "60s look" was famous on Kent State's campus.

Rick took personally racism at home and the genocidal war his government was pursuing in Vietnam. He became an important leader in Kent sds to fight these evils and to say we needed a complete transformation in the way things are run in our country and in our world. Rick sacrificed a great deal to end the war in Vietnam and to fight for his beliefs. He worked day and night. He went to jail for 6 months. He was very active in protests at Kent State during the spring of 1969, one year before 4 students were killed at Kent State during a similar antiwar protest. I know Candy and I speak for many of his old friends and comrades from Kent State who deeply mourn Rick's passing and remember him fondly.

I greatly miss Rick. Losing him is like losing a piece of myself. I was in touch with Rick during the time before and after his bone marrow transplant. Rick spoke to me calmly about how virulent the cancer was and said he didn't know what might happen from one day to the next. He stared cancer and death squarely in the face with the same courage he showed as a social justice activist. I made plans to visit Rick last year but it wasn't to be. Along with all of you here today I take this opportunity to say "so long" but not "farewell" to my friend Rick, who will always be with me.

Howie Emmer
Chicago Illinois

Rick was a man before his time. He loved being in the vanguard of almost anything. And so he came in at the beginning of the peace movement, doing what he thought was right and moral he became a strong and courageous leader, he was loyal to his friends and tireless in his fight against what he considered wrong or unjust. He was a hero of our time and we loved him for it.
David King

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