Obituary of Eric Richard Sander

Eric Richard Sander

June 16, 1951 - September  26, 2017

Eric was born on June 16, 1951 in Buffalo, New York to Carolyn and Robert Sander.  He spent his early years boating, hunting and fishing on the Niagara River and on Lake Erie.  He started to develop his love of music while in high school and formed a band.  While working summers for his father’s plumbing company, he realized he had an aptitude and love for numbers and finance.  During his last year at Alfred University, he met his wife Pam when she joined the rifle team that he was the captain of.  After graduation, they moved to Syracuse New York to begin their careers. Then it was off to Vancouver Washington in 1979 with a job transfer.  The majestic Pacific Northwest seemed like a great place to raise a family so along came Ericka, Rob, Ricky and David to be his partners in fun and adventure.  He supported them in every possible way whether it was attending sporting events, dance performances or chaperoning trips.

Eric was very committed to family.  He never missed a niece or nephew’s wedding and even cantered many of them.  He valued family so highly that distance never mattered when it came to being a part of a family event.                                

Eric never missed an opportunity to go camping, hiking, boating, fishing or hunting with his children and good friends. He instilled in his children a love and respect for the great outdoors.

Continuing to play the many guitars he had acquired, he joined the church choir at the United Church of Christ and a community choir the Vancouver USA Singers (then known as the Brahms Singers). He has sung with them and has held many positions on the board including President, for over 35 years.  He has also been an active participant singing and playing the guitar at the Saturday Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes for over twenty years.

For 44 years Eric worked in the Surety Bonding industry.  In 2012, with the help of his daughter Ericka, he ventured out on his own and started his company, Precision Bonding. He has served on the Board of Directors for both Southwest Washington Contractors Association and Associated General Contractors.

His beautiful spirit of joy and his passion to live life to its fullest will be missed by all the many lives he has touched, especially his mother Carolyn, his wife of 44 years Pamela, his daughter Ericka (Jeff), his sons Robert (Nicole), Richard and David (Brandi), his 10 grandchildren, his sister Elaine (Rich), Brothers Kenneth (Connie) and George (Peggy).