Mitzi Erickson

Mitzi Luci Erickson (Nee Benkman) May 25, 1920 - Nov. 23, 2010 Mitzi was born in San Francisco's Sunset District, attended Jefferson Grammar School, and graduated from Polytechnic High School in 1937. She received Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees from San Francisco State University and studied counseling and guidance at Stanford University. She loved teaching and taught at grammar schools in Redwood City, San Francisco and Marin County. When stationed overseas she taught English at the Escuela Americana in Managua, Nicaragua and was the counselor at the Seoul American High School in Korea. In 1943, she married Gene Erickson also of San Francisco. He was a new Army First Lieutenant whom she had known since she was 15 years old. Mitzi quickly adapted to the Army's rigid conventions and customs of the service and greatly enhanced Gene's career. Music, particularly orchestral, was a great part of Mitzi's life. Her father had been a flutist with the San Francisco Symphony and opera orchestras for many years. Mitzi loved the flute and had a really beautiful tone on the instrument. Mitzi retired from teaching in 1980 and, having done enough travelling in the Army, became a "fixture" in Tiburon, California with her husband Gene. In the early 2000's she began to show signs of Alzheimer's disease which was confirmed in 2007. For the past two years she was a patient at the Marin Convalescent and Rehabilitation Hospital where she received exceptional health care. Mitzi also loved animals. For 60 years there was always an Airedale plus 3 or 4 cats living in the house, she was a supporter of the Marin Humane Society. Per Mitzi's instructions of many years ago, there will be no funeral service for her. Arrangements will be managed by the Neptune Society and any donations in her memory may be made to the Marin Humane Society.