Ralph D. Erickson, June 25, 1922-May 26, 2006. He will always be remembered for his love of the water. He was an accomplished educator, writer, and coach. As a husband, father and friend, his life influenced a community, a university, an organization and an industry. He will be remembered as charismatic, accomplished, inspirational, and to some, the toughest coach they ever had. Ralph was strongly individualistic and lived life to the beat of his own drum. From life guarding on the beaches of Chicago, to teaching swimming and creating water shows at Portage Park, on to coaching swimming and water polo at Loyola University of Chicago, Ralph devoted his time to people and water sports. Over three decades he led many swim and water polo teams to championships including taking his college team to the NCAA numerous times during his 24 years with them. As a young World War II Paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne, he repeatedly risked his life to defend freedom. During the Battle of the Bulge, Erickson was wounded in the Rhine Pocket and was awarded a Purple Heart. He also received the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious achievement in ground combat against the armed enemy in the European Theater of Operations. Ralph is best known for his involvement in the scuba diving industry. In 1966 he co-founded the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) and was made President. He revolutionized the industry with his ideas on training and education which are now the cornerstone of today diver education. Erickson has written many articles on various water sports including several books on scuba diving. He has been inducted into the High School Swimming Coaches Association Hall of Fame, the High School Water Polo Hall of Fame, and the Loyola University of Chicago Athletic Hall of Fame. The Diving Equipment and Marking Association honored Ralph with the DEMA Reaching Out Award for Education and he was inducted into the DEMA Hall of Fame. In 2004 he received the Our World Underwater Achievement Award for his contributions to diving. Ralph will be missed, but his life will be remembered and celebrated as a significant contribution to shaping young minds, inspiring great athletes, mentoring future leaders and revolutionizing an industry. No one will miss him more than his wife Karen and his young daughter Karina. We will always love you daddy. His life will be celebrated during a memorial service on June 8, 2006, 4 p.m. at Cabo Loco, 1900 American Drive, Lago Vista, TX 78645. In lieu of flowers, the Erickson family requests donations be made in Ralph memory to The Project AWARE Foundation (www.projectaware.org); the Tim Early Foundation (16336 South 104th Ave. Orland Park, IL 60467) or the Ralph Erickson Educational Foundation – currently being set up in Austin, TX as a 501 (c) 3 organization to help fund scholarships for future scuba diving instructor development candidates. For further details or to send personal condolences, please contact PADI Human Resources Department at 800-729-7234, ext 2231, 30151 Tomas Street, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688. Karen would also like to compile a book of memories of Ralph for his daughter Karina so if you have a story about him you would like to share, please send it. Arrangements under the direction of Beck Funeral Home, Cedar Park, Texas 512-244-3772.
