Christopher Erickson - 3rd Engineer

[The Dieselduck]

Christopher B. Erickson

HOLDEN — Christopher Blair Erickson, 24, son of David P. Erickson and the late Mary M. Erickson, and Lea Ann K. Erickson of Holden, died Jan. 7, 2009, in Houston, Texas in a work-related accident.

Employed by Sea River Maritime, a subsidiary of ExxonMobil, he was a third assistant engineer since August 2007. He also sailed as third assistant engineer on the Mass. Maritime Training ship for 2008 training cruise.

Chris grew up in Holden, graduating from Wachusett Regional High School in 2003 and receiving the John and Abigail Adams Scholarship. He graduated magna cum laude from Mass. Maritime

Academy in 2007 with a B.S. in marine engineering and a

United States Coast Guard license as a third assistant engineer. He received the Maersk Lines Ltd. Award at graduation for "demonstrating the qualities of effort and leadership most desired in a seagoing officer." At Mass. Maritime, he served as cadet chief engineer, 2006 football team captain and 4-year football letter winner.

He also played football at WRHS, where his coach Mike Dubzinski said Chris was instrumental in creating a new football culture at the high school and was a wonderful role model to fellow players. He was an outstanding student and enjoyed mentoring other students. Chris attained the rank of Eagle Scout with a project on the Wachusett Greenways Rail Trail.

Gentle, down-to-earth and devoted to family, Chris's laughter made everyone around him smile. He was kind and approached everything with good humor. He had embarked on the career of his dreams and had bought his own home in N.H. with plans to share and fill it with the laughter of family and friends.

In addition to his parents Lea Ann K. Erickson and David P. Erickson, and his companion Susan Werth of Benicia, Calif., Chris leaves an older brother Andrew of Half Moon Bay, Calif.; younger sister Brianna and younger brother Patrick, both of Holden; his grandmothers, Alta May Werth of Calif., Patricia Erickson and Kathleen Buttrick, both of Minn.; and many aunts, uncles and cousins.

More information can be had herehttp://www.professionalmariner.com/ME2/ ... 492A36C5A9, and also in print, in the April 2009 edition of Professional Mariner