In Memory

Eric Bond

Eric Bond



 
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08/24/23 08:21 PM #1    

Bob Gwinn

What do you write about the loss of a very close friend? 

I have known Eric for 72 years.  It seems like yesterday that we were both playing on the monkey bars outside the Kindergarten of David Lubin.  We were in Troop 1 together, and we struggled through Kit Carson, Sutter, and Sac High.  Well, I struggled, Eric sailed through.  He was one of the smartest guys I have ever known.

During college, Eric and I would meet up whenever he came home from Berkeley.  There were jokes, and good stories.  We would discuss religion and politics.  When I went off to Vietnam, Eric was on the home front trying to stop the war.  I always enjoyed getting a letter from Eric in the field.

There are coincidences in a person's life that cannot be explained.  One of those coincidences in my life was Eric Bond, Mike Cooley, and I all being in Europe in 1972.  It was not planned, it just happened.  Because Eric and I were in Germany, I spent more time with him than Mike, who was in England.  It was one of the best times in my life, and I thank both Eric and Mike for that.

There are so many events in my life when Eric was there for me.  One of them was when he officiated at my wedding.  When Eric married Diana, I joked with him that I should officiate his wedding.  Diana and Eric had a wonderful life together.  They spent several years in France and raised two fine children. 

I could go on, but I will close with a poem by Goethe.  It is in German to commemorate the wonderful time Eric and I had there.

Über allen Gipfeln Ist Ruh,
In allen Wipfeln Spürest du
Kaum einen Hauch;
Die Vögelein schweigen im Walde.
Warte nur, balde Ruhest du auch.

Auf Wiedersehen Eric


08/25/23 11:55 AM #2    

Carolyn Barnes (Brumley) (Jan63)

Oh Eric, you were a one-of-a-kind, larger-than-life lovely person.  You loom large among my vivid memories of early childhood at David Lubin and for the 5 1/2 years beyond. I am saddened to hear of your passing and send my sincere condolences to your family.  Sail the good seas, Eric.  


08/26/23 08:09 PM #3    

Martha Kercheval (Parnell)

With condolences and prayers for comfort to all who knew, enjoyed and loved Eric, especially his family and those closeset to him.  Thank you Eric for your inspirations, pursuit of what is right and just and putting a smile on so many of our faces.  May you rest in peace and joy over the fulfillment of your faith.

Martha Jeanne Kercheval Parnell


08/30/23 09:22 AM #4    

Michael C. Messina

For those of you that would like to read Eric's obituary search Ventura County Star obituary legacy.com for August 25th. He had a very extraordinary life and the tribute was well written.   From Michael C Messina.


09/16/23 07:16 PM #5    

Bob Gwinn

On Friday, 9/15/2023, Lorraine Lindgren (Prichard), Tony Lobay, and I attended the Celebration of Life for Eric Bond.  It was a beautiful service, and both Tony and I made some brief comments.  In my comments, I recalled a humorous incident that I experienced with Eric, and I though I would share it with all of Eric’s friends in Class of 1963.

In the winter of 1973 Eric and I were in Darmstadt Germany.  It was late, and we had just left a Gaststätte.  We were standing at a streetcar stop waiting for the streetcar to come and it was cold.  Eric had a wool cap on and he was smoking a cigarette.  We were talking and waiting, and it just kept getting colder and colder.  I was watching the tracks hoping to see the streetcar coming.  Eric said something that I didn't quite hear and I turned around to look at him. To my surprise Eric had pulled the wool cap down completely over his eyes, nose and mouth.  He was smoking the cigarette through the wool cap.  I just started laughing.  Eric, said, "What are you laughing at?  It's cold!"


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