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Eric Collins Obituary
Dr. Eric David Collins was born in Garden Grove, California, on April 18, 1962, and passed in Greenwich, Connecticut, on May 28, 2024, surrounded by his family.
Born to Helene and John Collins, Eric spent most of his youth in Laurel, Maryland, and graduated as Valedictorian of Laurel High School in 1980, before continuing his education at Yale University. At Yale, he explored his passion for singing and co-founded Mixed Company, an aptly named mixed gender a capella group that continues its performances today. After graduating from Yale with a degree in Economics, he spent two years teaching physics and chemistry at Tabor Academy in Massachusetts before attending the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, where he discovered his passion for Psychiatry.
He graduated from medical school AOA in 1990 and continued his residency and fellowship training at Columbia, completing dual fellowships in addiction and consultation-liaison psychiatry. Throughout his career, he held the positions of Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Medical Director of Addiction Services at Columbia University, Physician-in-Chief of Silver Hill Hospital, and Medical Director of the New York Center for Living. His passion for patient care changed the lives of many.
Despite his love for psychiatry and the betterment of his patients, he valued his family above all. He raised his children in Darien, Connecticut, instilling intellectual curiosity and emphasizing the importance of education in them. He was an avid fan of the Dallas Cowboys (to the great dismay of his fellow New Yorkers), New York Yankees, and New York Rangers. He loved collecting hockey cards, most recently ecstatic over opening a Connor Bedard rookie card with his sons. His quick wit, broad smile, unmatched wisdom, and endearing quirks will be forever remembered by those who were lucky enough to know him.
His Wake was held at Hoyt Funeral Home in New Canaan on Friday, May 31st, from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. His funeral was held at St. Thomas More Church, in Darien, on Saturday, June 1st, at 10:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers, please donate to Zero Prostate Cancer, or the New York Center for Living.
He is survived by the love of his life and wife, Mary, his four children, Michael, Helene, Patricia, and Owen, and his large extended family of in-laws, "out-laws," nieces, and nephews. For online condolences and directions, please visit www.hoytfuneralhome.com
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Eric Collins
Sponsored by Hoyt Funeral Home & Cremation Service - New Canaan.
Jay Mott
September 10, 2024
I just recently learned of Eric's passing, and am surprised and saddened. I had the privilege of working with Eric for a few years in the early 2000's at Columbia. He was always a source of support and good cheer. My deepest condolences to his family.
Ronald H. Wharton
June 3, 2024
There are no words that can express how profoundly saddened I am by Eric's far-too-premature passing. Meeting Eric and having him as a friend was the single best thing to happen to me during medical school. He was the ultimate polymath. He could talk about so many diverse topics with an enormous depth of knowledge, the very personification of a Google search engine before Google existed. He was kind, empathetic, and possessed unmatched wisdom and brilliance. One of my proudest moments was beating him in a game of chess, upon which Eric immediately insisted on a rematch which he handily won. Every conversation with him was special, and always laced with a magnificent sense of humor. A battle of wits would invariably ensue, and it was a battle in which it was impossible to come adequately armed. I know that Eric touched so many people: his friends, his family, and his patients in the same way. I did not know that Eric was ill until the very end, and honestly, no amount of time could have prepared me for this. He was 1000% mensch, and will be missed more than I could possibly convey.
a grateful patient
June 2, 2024
Dear Collins family,
Dr. Eric Collins fundamentally altered the course of my life. He will be missed as my emotional messiah, cheeky sounding board, and a constant source of belly laughter in my life. In many ways, he was the heart and soul of my recovery journey, and he believed in me despite all signs to the contrary.
I met Dr. Collins at 17 years old - following an episode that took me off the Ivy League path and placed me firmly in the world of addiction and psychiatry. I hated the whole field; I was raised in a household where `headshrinkers´ were not to be trusted. However, I loved talking to Dr. Collins. He had a sparkling wit and an intellect that was unmatched - much to the chagrin of my cocky teenage self who tried to find any and all ways of evading his inquisitions. I loved making the trek to Columbia Hospital because I felt like I was playing psychological chess with the best.
Through our last appointment on May 21, 2024, he kept me accountable, safe, and intellectually engaged. He is almost single-handedly responsible for my return to academia, and he persevered through leaves of absences and stints at community college until I began to believe in my own mind. Until the end, he would follow up with me about every individual assignment grade, a parental gesture that I had never experienced.
He frequently reminded me that 90% of life was showing up, `to see and be seen´, and he genuinely believed that I could do anything I set my mind to. I don´t love casually, and I trust with even greater impunity. I wish I could have told Dr. Collins that he had succeeded in winning a limitless supply of both from me. He will be missed as both my greatest advocate and my favorite confidant.
I am devastated by his loss, but I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to know and be touched by him in such a profound way. I hope I am not oversharing by posting this message online. There are many more of us out there that will be forever changed by our time spent with Dr. C.
Margo Chase Rice
June 2, 2024
I am so sorry to learn of Eric´s passing. I knew him from LHS Chorus. My mom would shuttle Eric, Susie, and I to Maryland State Chorus rehearsals. We never had a dull moment and we were all very fond of him. admired his kindness, sense of humot, and intelligence. It is strange that only a few days ago he popped into my mind. I don´t know why, but I attempted to look him up. Of course I could not find him as many share his name. It is wonderful how he used his gifts to help so many. My sincerest condolences to his wife and children. He was a wonderful person.
David Taylor
June 1, 2024
The Columbia Psychiatry resident class of 1994 all send their condolences to Mary and the whole family. We have been thinking of all of you and remembering our work with Eric 30 years ago. We consider Eric to have been without question the most dedicated, sincere and thoughtful physician among us. What is so important for a psychiatrist is to be engaged and humble but also to be precise and good humored. Eric manifested these traits right from the start when we were completely untrained and overwhelmed. He was someone who helped his colleagues and was always responsible and well read. He continued in this way throughout his career which has been so distinguished and well rounded. We remember him for his infectious laugh, his quick wit, sense of mischief and bravery. He was one of the first and only psychiatrists of his generation to literally bungee jump alongside senior faculty - the rest of us were just too meek. We know that the lives of hundreds, if not thousands, of people have been improved through his caregiving and companionship. We all miss him deeply.
Maria Sullivan
June 1, 2024
Eric was a deeply respected colleague and dear friend to many of us in the Department. He had a gift for seeing the humor in many situations -- signaling its discovery with his infectious laugh. He was intensely curious about far-ranging subjects and had a keen intellect. He had a rapier wit tempered with kindness and loved wordplay in all its forms. Once we were holding a clinical staff meeting to review eligible study participants. As Eric entered the room, someone was referring to a screening subject by his nickname of "Donner" and saying we would be able to enroll two more similar study participants that week. Eric didn't miss a beat, asking casually, "Dasher and Blitzen?"
As a mentor, he was much admired and sought out by residents and fellows at Columbia. A seasoned and talented psychiatrist, Eric's clinical acumen and compassion engendered gratitude and loyalty in his patients. His family life was his source of greatest joy -- and with a little coaxing, he would delight in describing with pride his children's interests and accomplishments.
It seems fitting to invoke the sentiment expressed by Seamus Heaney's sister-in-law Polly Devlin upon his passing: "I never saw him but my heart jumped with pleasure, I never met him but he didn't welcome me as though he had been waiting to see me, and I know of no one who did not feel the same. We have come to the end of a dispensation with his passing."
Tim Fong
May 31, 2024
I knew Eric through the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry where we would meet at conferences and laugh, connect and learn from one another about the field of addiction care. His footprint on the field of addiction psychiatry is enormous and his humanism and positive energy impacted a generation of psychiatrists. He and I loved talking sports and sharing ideas of how to make deeper changes in the field of addiction psychiatry. I am sending my deepest condolences to his family, friends and colleagues and his loss is felt deeply today.
Rita Restivo
May 31, 2024
Laurie Nash
May 31, 2024
I was very lucky to be in touch with Eric very recently over a mutual patient. I am so saddened by this news. Eric was a rare and special human, so gifted, so gentle, always smiling and laughing - even in medical school and residency when some of us like me were crying more than laughing!! He has left a great impression on me and I am ever grateful that I knew him. My deepest condolences to Mary and their children he loved so much.
Marybeth Dugan
May 31, 2024
I met Eric and we became friends when he moved to Laurel, Maryland. We were in school together- all the way through high school. We were involved in church activities with the CYO, going on retreats, ski trips, beach ventures, playing in volleyball tournaments, singing in the youth folk group and just laughing and carrying on. He was the kindest, most thoughtful person with a wicked sense of humor, infectious laugh and was super smart. He loved to sing and had a great voice! In junior high, we were both in the musical, "You´re a Good Man, Charlie Brown" where I played Lucy and he played a very enthusiastic and loving Snoopy! He stole the show! After high school, we all went our separate ways attending college, choosing careers and living our lives. I often heard about how he was doing from mutual friends and thought about him a lot. Because he was so passionate and shared his compassion for others, we knew he would be a devoted family man and dedicate his life to helping those in need. He most certainly did!!
We were all lucky and blessed to have known him especially when we were "in our youth" making lasting memories. Thank you for your friendship, laughter, bringing joy to our lives, and sharing your brilliance with the world, Eric!
Well done, my friend.
Herbert Watkins
May 31, 2024
I am truly saddened by Eric´s transition, as he was one of the first classmates I met at P&S. Although we moved in different directions regionally and professionally, we had great interactions those times we got together. I will always remember him fondly and wish his family peace.
Robert Whittington
May 31, 2024
Dear Mary and Family,
My deepest sympathies to you all. I am so shocked and deeply saddened. Eric was my dear roommate in medical school and then we worked together on NIH-funded research related to treatment for opioid use disorder. He was such a kind person and the embodiment of humanism in medicine. He was truly a wonderful person. We were indeed blessed by his presence on this earth. Again, please accept my condolences. Rob Whittington
Sally Belcher
May 31, 2024
Eric and I spent two months of medical school together in Sitka Alaska at Mount Edgecombe Hospital. He was so smart, he diagnosed a case of porphyria. His laugh was genuine and kind. He was thoughtful, and always up for adventure. In later years, I thought of Eric often because, I am happy to say, I had a patient who looked just like him! With that crinkle-eyed smile. And I told him every time, "You look just like a friend of mine, Eric Collins!" I am shocked and saddened to lose him.
Adam Kaplan
May 30, 2024
Simply put, Eric Collins was one of the single most important influences on my professional life. Yes, he was incredibly smart, deeply inquisitive, seemingly knew everything, and could weave a sharp sense of humor into his work with ease. But what I will remember most about him was how it felt to have his support and respect pointed in my direction. Eric embraced me as an equal long before I believe it was actually true, and I became a better clinician because of it. He made me more confident, more willing to take chances, more able to grow into my professional self. He was a good friend in so many ways. I will miss his smile, his laugh, his playfulness, the list goes on and on. His loss is painful.
In loving tribute, I want to share one of my all-time favorite Eric moments. I was sitting in on his addiction rounds and a Resident was presenting a case. In the description of the patient she made mention of a missing lower ear. Eric asked why the patient was missing part of his ear and the Resident responded that she hadn´t asked. Eric paused, took a breath, and with perfect timing said: "As a general rule of thumb, if a patient is missing a body part, it´s a good idea to find out where it went."
Damn, will he be missed.
Clare Marie Ferguson Pope
May 30, 2024
So sorry for your loss! We were both Laurel High School Class of 1980 and shared many classes together. He was so nice, funny and SMART! Although we had lost touch, I am not surprised to hear what a prolific career he had. Prayers to his family.
Ellen Troy
May 30, 2024
Mary and Family- I was saddened to hear of the passing of your husband and father. In time I hope your many wonderful memories will bring you peace. My deepest condolences to all. I will keep your family in my thoughts and prayers. May Eric now rest in peace.
Ellen Troy
Rita and Alfonso Restivo
May 30, 2024
So sorry to hear of my cousin´s passing. He was very kind and extremely generous.
Love and prayers. Rita and Alfonso Restivo
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