Each of us knew Eric in at least one distinctive period of his history; some were fortunate to have known him in more than one epoch.Back in the earliest days of his career at Jupiter, Eric seemed all business to me, except for that rare occasion when he revealed himself in the briefest moments of communion. I found that we both wished to become better pianists; that we both felt our ties with siblings more deeply than some.In a later epoch, I was privileged to know Eric again: no longer single Eric, but Eric with Pam, and sons, and in-laws. What a marvelous Eric he had become. Eric in colorful spandex, beat but glowing after a bicycle trek across Mt. Tam. Eric playing Motown hits (another shared love of ours) and effusing about a recent trip to Sun Studios in Memphis. Eric describing holidays with the ones he cherished most. It seemed to me that a man largely enigmatic and consumed in his work earlier in life had finally revealed himself to be a deeply loving family man, an adventurer, a kind-spirited friend who, after decades had passed since our last meeting, still took the time to ask if all was well with my siblings and me.There are those who remain blessedly vivid after theyâ??ve left us. Ericâ??s face, remarkably unchanged as it was over the years, his voice, somehow deep and soft at once, will stay with me, with all of us I think, for the rest of our lives.
