It is with great sorrow that we share the news of Erika’s passing. A member of Dessoff for 24 years, she contributed tirelessly to help make Dessoff a success. Her contributions were numerous – a steady presence in the Soprano section, board secretary with clear and precise notes (as long as you didn’t have to read her handwriting), program designer and editor, flowers, cards and gifts procurer, and anyone who wrote anything’s editor. What can’t be said enough is that she was a loyal and generous friend, a clever and mischievous wit, a magnificent cook, a sparkling hostess of legendary Christmas parties at her home in Hawthorne, an enthusiastic sports fan, a voracious reader, an enthusiastic dancer, and an intrepid world traveler—truly a Renaissance woman, who enjoyed any adventure that life had to offer.

As Dessoff Conductor Malcolm J. Merriweather shared, "Erika was one of a kind and it is so strange to imagine a rehearsal or board meeting without her...she just embraced me from the very beginning. I will miss our frequent text message exchanges and our unofficial meetings during rehearsal breaks. I will always think back fondly on the time we spent together brainstorming ideas for our season dedicated to Walt Whitman. She was thrilled that her passion for choral music and literature had converged."

Dessoff was truly a better place for having her as a member and she will be sorely missed.

“We Remember” – a video photo montage of Erika through the years

Erika’s obituary can be viewed here.