George "Bob" Roberts Ericsson

Bob was a talented civil and structural engineer who worked for various firms including the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District. He famously fell thirty feet into a sewer pipe and pretty much walked away unscathed… barely bothering to inform his family. He worked on major projects for the Ohio Turnpike, the expansion of I-480, the Shaker Rapid Transit, and the aforementioned sewer projects in the region.

He was a multi-faceted man, a steadying force, an adventurous soul, a reliable partner, a kind and intelligent human. These only scratch the surface of the complexity that was wrapped up in Bob Ericsson. He never knew an answer that he could not somewhat skew with a wink and a nod. He left everyone with a smile and more so… feeling heard and important. Bob had a unique knack to be a friend to so many kinds of people with varied backgrounds, personalities, and histories. His versatility served him well as he continuously re-invented himself throughout his life.

He hated pickled herring.

Bob often spoke of zooming around the hills of West Virginia in his Mustang Mach 1. He scuba-dived under the ice of Lake Erie, the former quarries of Ohio, and the beautiful reefs in Indonesia and the Caribbean. He adventured down the Amazon and tasted Guinness from the taps in Ireland. He performed multivariate analysis in his sleep, and photographed literally everything and anything that crossed his path, on land and in the sea. These examples pale in comparison to the experiences of his entire life but provide a brief taste.

Bob was loyal and loving to his wife Ruth in health, raising Matt together balancing challenging work schedules. They all had good times together and shared many amazing experiences. Bob shined in times of sickness as well, navigating exceeding complexity with Ruth as she managed life after her stroke. He worked well in to his 70s so that he could ensure she was cared for before she passed in 2011.

Bob cared deeply for his siblings. He was the definition of a good big brother. His siblings could always rely on Bob as a steady voice, comforting force and of course a teaser as a big brother ought to have been.

Later in life, Bob embraced perhaps one of his most treasured roles… that of grandpa. Bob loved to see his grandchildren Cole and Quinn. His voice was frequently heard at ball fields around Ohio encouraging the team. He always wanted to know about the latest accomplishments of the kids. His eyes lit up when he saw them. Having a grandson and granddaughter brought him tremendous joy.

Bob navigated challenging times with dignity and class. In his eventual, frustratingly frail state, he made a point of standing up, walking over to his buddy Bob Roberts to say goodbye with a firm handshake earlier this year. He got up and knelt before his buddy Ernest Petti to say goodbye with a prayer late last year. Even though that was hard to do, Bob did it because he was undeterred.

Bob is survived by his son Matt (Stephanie) Ericsson; exceptional grandchildren, Cole and Quinn; sisters Irene Gates, Christine Crawley, and Penny (Jeff) Breedlove; brother Mike (Kathleen) Ericsson.

He was preceded in death by his loving wife Ruth; sister Cathy (Dennis) Mackey; brother Jack (Callie) Ericsson; brothers-in-law William Crawley, George (Nymfa) O’Connor; parents George and Lula Ericsson.

Actually, he loved pickled herring.

A memorial gathering for Bob will be held Friday, September 15, 2023 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Corrigan Craciun Funeral Home, 20820 Lorain Road, Fairview Park, OH 44126. A funeral mass will occur Saturday, September 16, 2023 at 10:00 AM at St. Mel Church, 14436 Triskett Road, Cleveland, OH 44111.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.corrigancraciun.com for the Ericsson family.