Douglas R "Coach" Erickson

Douglas (Coach) Erickson 1929-2017 To those he influenced: My grandfather told me stories about you. I know your names. I know the places you've been. I know the things you've done. He remembered everything. And he told it all. Recounting the details of your lives was his greatest pleasure. He spoke of your successes with joy, of your failures with sorrow and of your aspirations with caution, as a father would. You were a part of him. For all the influence he had on your lives, know that you had more on his. Thank you for permitting him a place in your hearts all these years. You made him a giant. Douglas Erickson passed away at home on the morning of December 11, 2017. The sun was shining, and he was surrounded by his family. He was born on August 20, 1929 in Corning, New York, but spent much of his adolescence in Auburn, New York. Douglas was predeceased by his parents Harold and Mildred Erickson, his brothers Kaye and Donald Erickson and his sisters Ella Smith and Marian Bosy. Douglas is survived by his beloved wife of 62 years, Marie, their daughters Kandi Kerton (Tom) and Lori Ciarmello and their three grandchildren, Kersten Brady (Kevin), Eric Ciarmello (Emma Chalmers) and Keegan Ciarmello. He also survived by his sister Jeanette LeGere (Jim) as well as several nieces, nephews and great grandchildren. Douglas was awarded a full scholarship to play football at the University of Syracuse in 1948. He graduated with a degree in physical education in 1952 and shortly thereafter began his coaching career at Coxsackie-Athens. From 1952-1957 he would lead Coxsackie to a 77-7 record in baseball, winning the Central Hudson Valley League five years in a row. In 1958, Douglas moved with his family to Scotia, New York and found a position at Draper. There he would produce two state finalist baseball teams in 1982 and 1983 and an undefeated football team in 1966. After retiring from Draper in 1988, he took a position with the modified football program at Mohonasen. The team went unbeaten in his first five seasons as coach, winning 29 straight games. Douglas' monumental career saw its conclusion in 2011 when at the age of 82 he decided, after much deliberation, to retire from coaching in favor of spending time with his family. In his 60 years of coaching he amassed 105 wins as a varsity football coach and is seventh all-time in Section 2 with 415 baseball wins. Outside of coaching he was a fisherman, a traveler, a comic, a hero. Above all he was a man. An infinitely complex man. He raised a beautiful family and was loved absolutely. A new era has dawned. A celebration of Coach's life will be held on Thursday afternoon December 14th from 1 to 3 pm at the Rotterdam Elks Lodge #2157, 1152 Curry Road, Rotterdam, NY. Relatives and friends are invited to attend. In lieu of flowers contributions maybe made in Doug's memory to Community Hospice, 445 New Karner Road, Albany, NY 12208 or to St. Jude's Children research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105