Robert Albert Erickson

Robert Albert Erickson (Col., USAF, Ret.) passed away at his home in McLean, VA, on December 15, 2022, after a long illness. Bob was born on December 26, 1931, to Albert and Clara (nee Buckley) Erickson in Brooklyn, NY. He graduated from Brooklyn Technical High School and attended The Cooper Union School of Engineering in New York City. Bob joined the U.S. Air Force (USAF) in 1952 as a pilot with the Military Air Transport Service (which became the Military Airlift Command). At the age of 23, he became the youngest flight commander in the USAF. While on active duty, Bob received a BS and Masters in Industrial Engineering from the University of Michigan and Georgia Tech, respectively. He served in Vietnam as a flight instructor and advisor to the South Vietnamese Air Force from 1969-1970. Upon his return to the U.S., he moved his family to McLean and went to work at the Pentagon as a Systems Analyst in the Office of the Secretary of Defense. Following his retirement from the USAF in 1975, Bob joined the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) where he was appointed a charter member of the Senior Executive Service by President Carter on July 23, 1979. He retired from the NRC in 1994. Not one to sit back and relax, Bob began a third career by joining sons James and Andrew to create and operate Erickson Archival Telecine LLC, from 1999 until 2005, and Critical Past LLC in 2010, the latter becoming one of the largest archival footage collections in the world. He continued to participate in the business until a year before his death. Bob liked reading and working in his garden, in particular tending to his beautiful roses. His favorite activity, however, was spending time with his loving family. Bob was predeceased by his parents, brother Ronald, infant granddaughter Christine, granddaughter Lana, and Laura, his beloved wife of 47 years. He is survived by his children Sean, Patricia Hart (Tal), Elizabeth Foit (Jim), James Nepomuceno (Gerry), Andrew (Inga), eight grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren, and sisters Constance and Clare. Friends and relatives are invited to attend a memorial service for Bob to be held at 11 a.m. on January 7, 2023, at Redeemer Lutheran Church in McLean. Bob and Laura were long-time members of Redeemer where Bob had served in various roles including church council President. A private ceremony of inurnment will take place at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Robert Erickson may be made to: Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, 1545 Chain Bridge Road, McLean, VA 22101