Roy Emanuel ERICKSON

ERICKSON, Roy Emanuel: Roy was born March 30, 1943, in Comox and passed away January 28, 2024, in Penticton. He grew up on a farm in Courtenay with four siblings, chickens, cows and a dog. After completing his degree in Engineering Physics at UBC in 1965, Roy joined the Research and Development branch of the Department of National Defence in Valcartier, Quebec. In 1973 he transferred to Defence Research Establishment Pacific in Victoria. At DREP, Roy joined the Electromagnetics Section working on underwater electromagnetics and mine detection. He continued this work throughout his career in DND. As a scientist and later as Section Head, he earned the admiration and trust of those who worked with him and was recognized as an expert in his field. He received a patent for his invention of a new way to detect small signals, and he led DND's investigation into the possibility of using airborne superconducting magnetometers for submarine detection. He continued his leadership of the Electromagnetics Section when it was transferred to Halifax in 1998. Roy retired in 2001 and moved to Pender Island with his wife, Linda Churcher. They moved to Penticton in 2011. He is greatly missed by Linda; his daughter Amanda, of Penticton; his son Joel, of New York; and his three grandchildren Liam, Anya and Greta. In lieu of flowers please donate to critteraid.org