It is with great sadness that we inform you, Eric passed very suddenly on Saturday October 4, 2025. Eric wore many hats within the IWCS, secretary, treasurer, web master and source of many wood specimens for fellow members. He was an active member of the First State Woodturners, an Affiliate Chapter of the American Association of Woodturners (AAW). He also judged the woodworking projects at the Harford County Maryland Farm Fair for many years. He recently provided a wood turning demonstration for Harford County 4-H students in March 2025. One of his favorite activities was to turn spinning tops for children and adults at local fairs. He would tell children that they could get a top but they had to pick the colors to finish the it.
Eric coordinated the IWCS table at the annual Hearne’s Hardwood (Oxford, Pennsylvania) open house and provided several hand-crafted items for their charity raffle on 26-27 September 2025. All of the income from the Hearne’s open house went to support the local Habitat for Humanity of Chester County, PA https://www.hearnehardwoods.com/open-house-2025/
A prolific turner, he made many bowls and lidded boxes to display his wood collection. He was the first person the Barnes Arboretum manager would call whenever a tree needed to be removed. Eric would coordinate with the arboretum-contracted tree company to limb the logs, cut them to manageable lengths and set them aside. Eric would coordinate a group from the First State Woodturners and any local IWCS members, who would meet at the arboretum to harvest the usable wood. Eric would distribute many of these wood finds to the IWCS specimen producers and to several members around the world. The picture of him with a chain saw was taken at the arboretum. For those with a keen eye, you can see Eric was a bowl turner. He split the crotch of the log to capture the crotch figuring for a future bowl.
Eric and his wife Paula raised a flock of ducks and geese in their rural backyard. They kept a local food pantry supplied with fresh eggs throughout the year. One of Eric’s endearing qualities (of many) was that he would share all of his wood finds and finished projects with anyone. The sizes would range from specimen size, to 12 foot long flat boards and slabs, to large bowl blanks. He usually carried wooden pens crafted by him to hand out to people he met.
Eric graduated and received his US Army commission from Norwich University. A proud retired member of the US Army, Eric served overseas with the Saudi Arabian National Guard, and served there during Operation Desert Storm. He was also stationed for a year in the DMZ in South Korea.
