Service to be held
December 28th
at 10:30am
St. Nicholas of Myra Church
17114 Ventura Blvd.
Encino, CA 91316

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to
Nature of Wild Works
https://natureofwildworks.org.
There will be a link on the main page to donate under Erik’s name.

Erik L. Nelson lived a full, happy 81 years and was deeply loved by many. He enjoyed a rewarding career, first as a stage and film actor and later as a Propmaster in our local. He served on the executive board and as a trustee and as union president. In the process of accomplishing the goals of his professional life, he always shared his knowledge, humor, humility, and insight without hesitation while drawing on the best qualities of those around him. Erik was always a powerful presence in the room with his signature laugh, warmth, and bear hugs.

Erik played a number of characters in film such as Mr. Tinkham in the original Poseidon Adventure, and Will in Towering Inferno. As a Propmaster Erik worked on over 50 films including: An Officer and a Gentleman, The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension, The Goonies, The Color Purple, Lethal Weapon, Patriot Games, Maverick, Assassins, Conspiracy Theory, and National Treasure. His first and favorite, among many TV series he worked on, was Laverne & Shirley. On the set his T-shirt carried the motto: “Why grow up when you can make movies?” Erik was a true lover of nature and of wild, beautiful places; his many travels took him far and wide - Africa, Asia, Australasia, Europe - but he especially loved the Pacific Northwest and Alaska.

He is survived by his beloved wife Lynn of nearly fourteen years. Previous to that, Erik was married for 36 years to actress Elizabeth Rogers until her untimely death. He leaves behind an extended loving family including son Michael, brother Blaine and family, grandson Gavin, and Lynn’s daughters and grandsons.

Erik cultivated a vast range of knowledge and appreciation of the finer things in life, and as a bon vivant knew how to enjoy himself. He was a big fan of jazz greats Brubeck and Billie Holiday. Erik’s curiosity was boundless and he found almost any topic fascinating. He adored his pets and was both a cat and dog man. Erik was a mentor and guiding star for many; his passing leaves a huge gap in this world and he will be profoundly missed.



IN MEMORY OF ERIK NELSON BY EMILY FERRY

I do not remember who left the Executive Board, creating a vacancy that had to be filled, but Erik succumbed to my entreaties and joined the Board in the early 1980s.

He was a fast learner, and jumped in with both feet to help his union during what I have begun to euphemistically call “The Special Period” - a term coined by the Cubans when Russia withdrew their aid and the populace began to starve even more than they had before. During Local 44's "Special Period" we suffered through paid officers wielding weapons in our building, the hiring of an advisor who proudly announced that he had served time in prison with his dear friend Jimmy Hoffa, and the resultant placing of our Local in Trusteeship by the International.

Eventually, Erik and I were called upon to testify against our own Local, and we rose to the occasion and did so. These were frightening times, yet Erik stood strong and tall against all the winds that buffeted us.

When it became obvious that my belief in the necessity of a revised Constitution for Local 44 had ramped up to the emergency stages, Erik agreed and became my co­ chair on the Constitution Committee.

For no recompense, over hundreds of hours, Erik helped forge a democratic governing document for our Local.

Erik loyally served as President to Local 44, as a Convention delegate, and, finally, as a Trustee, where he brought his intelligence and innate decency to bear, helping to craft a handbook to ensure independence for Trustees.

Eric, and our then spouses, were part of a bridge foursome. He was an always gracious winner and an even more gracious loser.

Erik was a protector of all animals, traveling several times to Africa, and working as a volunteer at the LA County Zoo.

Erik was a highly successful and respected Property Master, working on such films as Lethal Weapon, The Color Purple, Officer and a Gentleman, and National Treasure. And yet he found time, over many years, to support his Craft and his Union.

Once, at an event, this picture was taken, and we used to joke that it looked like Erik and I had absconded with union funds and run away to Hawaii.

He was a big man, with a big laugh, and I can truly say that I never heard him utter a disparaging word against his fellow Property Masters. Honorable, sincere, generous, funny, faithful and loving: in short, the world and Local 44 are better places for having had Erik inhabit them. Those of you who knew Erik will agree that we have lost a great man and a dear friend. Let us not forget him.