CAPE ELIZABETH – Family members and friends will gather at the Hobbs Funeral Home in South Portland today to celebrate and honor Donald Erickson, a well-respected businessman who died Tuesday. He was 80.
Mr. Erickson joined H.B. Fleming Inc. in South Portland shortly after his father, Ray Erickson, and Howard Fleming founded the company in 1955. At the time, H.B Fleming focused mostly on pile driving and marine work.
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Mr. Erickson was an engineer and a project superintendent for H.B Fleming. He oversaw many projects along Portland’s waterfront. He installed underwater pipelines across many of the state’s rivers and bays. He also helped build bridges and sewage treatment plants throughout New England.
Mr. Erickson bought the company in 1973 with Richard Ingalls, who was a longtime chairman of the Portland Harbor Commission. Ingalls worked with Mr. Erickson until they sold the business in 1994.
Ingalls said Wednesday that Mr. Erickson was an outstanding business partner and a good man.
“We worked very closely together in the company,” he said. “This is a very sad day for me. … You can’t say enough good about Don Erickson.”
Mr. Erickson was married to Jacqueline Erickson for 45 years.
Patricia Erickson of Scarborough, the youngest of his four daughters, said Wednesday that her parents met at a dance.
She said her father sneaked up on her mother and tickled her sides.
“She turned around and almost smacked him,” his daughter said.
Mr. Erickson and his wife enjoyed riding their motorcycle throughout northern New England. At one point, the Ericksons hauled a small trailer with equipment to go camping.
“They had a lot of fun together,” his daughter said. “He had a great sense of humor. He loved to have fun and laugh and joke around.”
Mr. Erickson was remembered Wednesday by his family and friends as a good man and a loyal friend who went the distance to help others.
Nancy Ricker of Cape Elizabeth said he was a loyal friend to her and her former husband, Donald Smaha, who died of brain cancer in 1997.
After Smaha got sick, Ricker said, Mr. Erickson came to their home almost daily to help them. She said he took Smaha to doctor’s appointments and helped them around their house.
In earlier years, the men enjoyed going on skiing trips together. “They were hysterical together,” Ricker said. “You could hear Don Erickson laughing clear across the mountain. He was funny and witty. He was just wonderful.”
Mr. Erickson had a passion for woodworking, and made his daughters many pieces of furniture.
Patricia Erickson said she will miss laughing with her father.
“I’ve missed that for a while. He had Alzheimer’s,” she said.
“After my mom died, he opened up more with us,” she said. “We were really lucky to have that time to strengthen our relationship with him. We’re very grateful for that.”
Staff Writer Melanie Creamer can be contacted at 791-6361 or at: mcreamer@pressherald.com
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