Walter E. Ericsson, 97, of Darien, passed away on Tuesday, June 7.
Walter Ericsson, 97, passed away on June 7.
Born March 19, 1919 in Stamford, Walter Ericsson married his much loved Bunny (Ellen) Terzian in 1949 and settled in Darien, where they have lived for 67 years.
Walt grew up and attended Stamford schools, graduating from Stamford High School in 1935 at the age of 16. He was very active in sports, and in 1939 he was selected to the United States All American baseball team, after tryouts in Cooperstown, N.Y., attended by 128 young men from all over the nation. This team represented our country in the World Games played in Havana.
In 1941, with the drafting of men into the armed forces, Walt enlisted in the Army Air Corps. Shortly thereafter, Pearl Harbor was attacked and the United States was at war. Walt proudly served for four and one half years in the Air Corps with his duty taking him to the China, Burma, India theatre as a member of the 4th Combat Cargo Group.
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— an obituary from Edward Lawrence Funeral Home
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Walt was a proud member of the China Burma India veterans Association, a past commander of the local Fairchester Basha [group chapter, “named for the flimsy field huts that troops lived in while serving in Asia”], and commander of the New York department at the time of the dissolution of the national organization.
Upon returning home from the war, he joined the former Connecticut Power Co. When Walt left the power company after 21 years, he served as senior vice president of the Lewis H. Worrad Co., retiring in 1988.
He enjoyed years of sharing his love of baseball, coaching and managing Darien’s youth in the Little League and Babe Ruth leagues. In 1983, Walt was one of the honorees by the Stamford Old Timers Association. He was included among the Stamford Legends of Sports in the late 90s.
Walt was a long time member of Zion Lutheran Church from childhood. He served on many of the church boards, including two terms as president of the congregation. He was on the building committee for the construction of the parish hall and was chairman of the building committee for the remodeling and refurbishing of the church building.
He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church at the time of his passing, where he had served as vice chairman of the board of trustees.
Walt belonged to the Darien Senior Men’s Association, and was Darien’s Grand Marshal of the Memorial Day parade in 2010 at the age of 91.
Walter was pre-deceased, in addition to his parents, by two brothers: John, his older brother and best friend, and Warren, his younger brother, who was lost at sea when his destroyer was torpedoed and sunk during WWII. He was also pre-deceased by four sisters.
He is the admired and loved father of Jack of Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., and the cherished “everything” to his daughter Sandra of Westport. His adoring grandson, Nolan, of New York City and Westport, is his pride and joy, with great-granddaughter, Alexandra, his doll, and Bella and Lily, his companions, guard dogs, and playmates!
Walter Ericsson’s life will be celebrated on Thursday, June 16, at 12 noon in the Noroton Presbyterian Chapel, Darien, followed by interment with full military honors at Spring Grove Cemetery, Darien.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Disabled American Veterans Association.