Eric Vivian

I have a warm and grateful place in my heart for dear Eric. He was a most important and beloved mentor for me when I attended Algonquin College in the 1970’s. His wisdom and friendship have stayed with me all through the years.

Dear Mrs. Vivian, David and Heather:

This is Matt Moran writing. Two weeks ago I was in Ottawa visiting a friend. As I always do when I'm in town I went down to the Bye Ward Market to visit Eric at Lapointe Fish. While I was there I spoke to Eric's nephew who told me that Eric had died last October of brian cancer. At that very moment in time I was stunned. I could not believe what I had just heard. I think I went into shock. I had not seen Eric in maybe five years, so to hear this news came so sudden for me. As the days pasted I continued to think about Eric and could still not believe he was gone.
Mrs. Vivian I need to tell you that Eric was my very first big brother and what an honor to say that about Eric. I can still remember the first time Eric took me to meet you Mrs. Vivian, I believe you living in Almer, if I'm not mistaken. I remember at the time you with Dezzy (I believe that was his name). Mrs. Vivian I can still remember the great home made bread you used to make. Eric and I would show up, sit down and be fed by you. You would serve that great bread with either peanut butter of stawberry jam, boy was that great. Mrs. Vivian I can still remember how loving you always were to me, making me feel so special.
Mrs. Vivian, David and Heather I want to offer my deepest sympathies to you and all of the family. I will never forget what Eric meant to me and what he did for me when I needed some most in my young life.

I was greatly saddened to learn of Eric's death. Eric and I were fraternity brothers at Lenoir Rhyne. Eric was one of those few people who drew admiration from all who knew him and were touched by him. Eric was, and I am sure remained, a true gentleman and he will be missed.

It was with great sadness that I just learned of Eric's passing. He was a senior when I entered Lenoir Rhyne and being his fraternity brother was a great experience. From reading the entries in this guest book, it certainly appears that he continued his life after college in the same manner as in college, with compassion, grace and dignity. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.

Margaret and Family, I just found out that your father has passed away and I am terribly sorry for your loss. Your dad was always so happy and kind and it is a great loss to this world that he is gone. I will always remember him for his silly jokes and dropping off fresh fish for Lawrence. It was a honour to know him and I hope that you can get through this tough time by remembering all of the good times that you had with him. As always, if there is anything I can do, please let me know. Kim and Kayla

Dear Marie, David and Heather. We were so saddened to hear of Eric”s passing. Our 2 families shared such wonderful times when we lived across the street from each other in Glenwood Domaine. We had such fun playing touch football and hide and go seek after supper on warm summer days. Many years later when my husband and I took a school group on a trip to Ottawa,(from the other side of Toronto) we were walking past Lapointe’s Fish Market and the kids were all looking in the window and were so interested in the many varieties of fish and sea food. I went in and asked if I could speak to Eric, hoping he would allow the kids in to tour his store. He was at a meeting but when he knew it was me he came out and after greeting me he arranged for an employee to explain to the children the various things they were seeing. This is just one example of his generous spirit. I was so glad to have had the opportunity to reconnect with him at our High School Reunion.
Leslie Ciglen (Holloway) Judy Bunker (Holloway) and Elizabeth Friedman(Holloway)

Eric was a true gentleman. My father loved him and cherished their relationship. I know it is hard to lose someone so special. How fortunate we've been to have Eric walk the Earth.

Eric was a prince among men -- handsome, intelligent, courteous, thoughtful, articulate in spoke and written words. Our faculty, his classmates, and fellow team members at Lenoir-Rhyne valued his time on our campus in the 1960's. My husband, his football coach, appreciated him both as a player then as a friend in later years when he came to visit us. He was very important to us as an alumni, and we treasure the memory of his life with us.

My condolences to the Vivian family on your great loss. My memories of Eric go back to the days at Aylmer High when he was one of the cool older guys, and I was just one of the little kids. When I met him again a few years ago, at a reunion, I was impressed by his vitality and enthusiasm for life. My thoughts are with you all.

Dear Lorayne, Margaret, Anne, Mandy, Erica, Heather and David

Having longed for an older brother, I was so proud to 'acquire' 2, Eric and David as step-brothers. Although I can't be with you today, at Eric's Memorial, you will all be so much in my thoughts. I love you all.
Dawne and David Marlow

Dear David and Heather and Marie (or Mrs Vivian as you were known to us kids in Glenwood Domaine). I was sorry to hear of the death of Eric. We renewed our friendship at the Aylmer High reunion a few summers ago and reminisced about the good old days. It is never easy to lose a son or a brother and I hope all your good memories will comfort you in the difficult days to come. I just wanted you to know that my thoughts are with you and I send you my deepest sympathy.
Carol Forrester (Bacon)

Pauline, Heather, David, Marie and families,
It has been so many years. I met Eric when he was an unsure 18 year-old far from home. Four years later I returned with him to Ottawa as his wife. ..just as a knee injury ended his boyhood dream of being a Rough Rider. Our young marriage didn't make it, but our friendship lasted a lifetime. I have had the privilege of seeing Eric become a strong, loving and remarkable person: a humble leader, a man of the city who was most alive in the deep woods, a “warrior” who was such a man of peace, a man who gained great wisdom, yet rejoiced in an almost innocent sense of life. He lived his life with passion, compassion and love. Always love. He remains in my heart as I know he does in yours. And Mandy, Margaret, Erica and Annie, I know he will live most of all within you. May you take the best of your father with you as you move through your lives.

Our thoughts are with Eric's family. Much too late did my wife Marion and I decide to visit Eric, only to find out when we called and talked with him that he was scheduled to have another surgery within a few weeks. We decided to wait until he would be well again - we are saddened to have missed him.
Eric was a team-mate of mine at LRC and would visit us whenever he made his way to Hickory, N.C. One time he brought Annie with him, showing her our horses. One of our greatest memories was seeing Eric and Gary Lockman on horseback running across the fields. Eric looked like John Wayne....
We greatly admired Eric for his atheletic ability and most of all for his outstanding character. We are happy that he was a part of our life. Our world is a better place because of his life.

Marion and Claude Brewer
Taylorsville, North Carolina

Marie,David,Heather and family,my condolences on Eric's passing. It has brought back a flood of good memories which will stay with me for a lifetime. Two days ago when we passed Hickory N.C. on our way south my wife wondered why I was unusually quiet. I had to pull over and explain.It took me a long time and more than a few tears.
Remembering the good times!!
We will meet again good friend!!

News of Eric's passing is sad news for all who knew him - regardless of the nature of the relationship. I was a classmate of Eric's at Lenoir-Rhyne College, and, though I did not play football, I always considered him a personal friend and a very "polished" guy. He had a lot of class. Many at LR looked up to him (both physically and otherwise) but all who knew him admired him. He will be missed by everyone.

Dear Marie and family,
I was deeply saddened to learn of your son's passing. I know from our conversations over the years what a loving and devoted son he was to you. May happy memories help to sustain you now in this time of loss. Mother joins me in sending our heartfelt condolences. You are in our thoughts and prayers.

I was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Eric Vivian Jr. I have known and admired the Vivian family since Aylmer High School days and hrough family connections. My deepest sympathies to Heather, David, and all of Eric's family for this great loss.

Eric was a football teammate at Lenoir-Rhyne College...an All-Conference player and a fine person...he will be missed by all that knew him and whose lives he touched...my condolences to all in his family...Jack Huss (LRC '69)

Today I have learned about the loss of great friend and former teamate. Erick was everything that we all we wanted to be. Solid, someone you could trust, we will miss him !!

Dear Vivian Family,
All of Eric's Lenoir Rhyne teammates are so sad to hear about your loss. We all played for a tough man, Coach Hanley Painter( he was a Cherokee Indian and the name "Painter" was the way indians anglicized "Panther").. and he was! When Coach Painter died several years ago, Eric drove all the way to Hickory , North Carolina to acknowledge the influence that "Booger" had on his life. Eric, when we played the game of our youth, we were always the conference champion. Your leadership, ability and goodness made us what we were and are today. God bless you and your family.

Fred Brown

My deepest sympathy to Eric's family.I met Eric at Carlingwood Club (now Premier Club).Eric was a very friendly and modest person.
I hope he did not suffer too much.
God bless.

My deepest sympathy to Eric's family.I met Eric at Carlingwood Club (now Premier Club).Eric was very friendly and a modest person.
I hope he did not suffer too much.
God bless.

I am deeply sadden to hear that my team mate has passed away. Eric and I first met as we were both freshmen at Lenoir-Rhyne playing football for the Bears and we became friends very quickly. We had a very short Thanksgiving break from school during that freshman year and Eric spent the holiday at my house on a farm in Taylorsville NC. I saw Eric and Annie when they came to Hickory a few years ago and He was the same caring person then as he was in 1963. I talked with him in September and he seemed to have a strong faith and was very positive. I have no doubt he fought hard to the very end. I have nothing but fond memories of Eric. God Bless him. My sympathy to his family. He was a great human being.

Marie,Heather & Dave. Truly sorry to hear about Eric. I first met Eric at the YMCA Health Club where he asked me to come work for him at Lapointe Fish. I was very reluctant at the time but they were 7 of the greatest years of my life. It gave me the opportunity to meet a very special,caring & helpful gentleman who became one of my best friends.

Dave and Heather, I want to convey my deepest condolences for your loss. Many years have passed since your family arrived from Newfoundland to live across the street from us in Aylmer. I fondly recall childhood memories of us playing cowboys and indians on the lawn, skipping school with our parents to see the new Robin Hood movie or simply swimming at the pier. Even then it was clear to me that Eric was very special. Although I only saw Eric a few times after we all left Wellington Street, I can’t tell you how many times over the years that Eric’s name came up in conversation with mutual friends. Without exception all those I talked with held him in the highest regard. I moved to the US in the early 80’s. Ironically, an important part of my business life is involved with friends living in the Hickory and Lenoir area where Eric is remembered as one of the greatest football players to ever play the game at Lenoir Rhyne University. It seems that one of the best parts of life is building happy memories. I hope that the memories you cherish of Eric will help you get through this difficult time.

Eric Vivian, (aka Kingfish), has been my very close friend for the past 35 years. We travelled together, ski trips, snorkling trips and he was my tennis buddy. Eric was truly a very physical man's man. Yet the paradox is, that he was the kindest, most gentle & sesitive man that I knew. Our conversations, exchanges of ideas, laughter and our time together helped mold me to the person that I am today. To his mother Marie, his lady friend Pauline, who cared for him so compassionately this year, David, Heather, his nephew Jeffrey, (he thought of you as a son), his daughters, Mandy, Erica, Margaret & Annie, I share your grief. I am absolutely devastated by the loss of my dearest friend. We have lost an extraordinary gentleman far too early. God bless you.
Brian Twinn (aka Bugman)

Today, I have heard of you great lost.

To the family, my thoughts and prayers are with you. He has touched many lives in a very positive way.

Francine Dionne

Francine Dionne

Carol and I were deeply saddened to hear about Eric's passing. When we visited Ottawa last year, Eric was, as always, loving, friendly, and generous. I will always remember him with great affection as a friend and team mate. Our deepest sympathy goes to all of his family and friends.

Lorayne,Margaret and Anne and family I send my condolences to all for your loss.Eric was a very caring man that will be greatly missed by many.He was the type of person that would notice all in a room and try to learn everyone's name if he didn't know you.He was always smiling and had so much life in him.It was sad to see him a few months ago so exhausted and just not feeling himself.He said things would get better and he would see us all so soon and that he missed us all and gave me a big hug.It makes me sad that such a great person had to go so early,he was just ready to relax more and enjoy his life.Eric we will miss you so much.You will never be forgotten.I am sure you will be missed by many since you left such a good impression on many with your caring heart and warm personality.Take care.xoxox

Eric Vivian and my husband Barry Bryant were part of a group of invincible handsome young men who worked at the YMCA in the late 1960's. Now they are gone but not forgotten. My condolences to the family.

Eric was a very good friend of my Dad and indeed was a great man. Very sad to hear of his passing. All the best to his family.

Marc Landry

To Eric's Family & Friends & to his Sweetheart Pauline,
Eric will always hold a very special place in our hearts. His friendship will be truly missed. He was the kindest, most generous loving man you could ever meet.
Our trip to Greece didn't happen, but we know we shall meet again Good Friend.
Warmest Regards, Elizabeth & Tassy Katsoulis

We were so sorry to hear of your loss. The thoughts of many are with you at this time of sorrow.

My deepest sympathy to the Vivian family for the loss of Eric. I was a fellow Lisgarite and a YMCA member.I am going to miss him at the annual reunion with the boys at Al's as we have had some great talks telling all the same old storys every year. I am deeply touched by his passing. Regards George Hathaway.

Dearest Heather and family: I know Eric will be greatly missed by family and friends as he was a truely wonderful, kind-hearted, eternally optimistic individual. Every year, I had the pleasure and good fortune to meet him on the driving range at the Rivermead Golf Club where we would hit balls side-by-side, talk about family and mutual aquaintances and coach each other on developing the perfect golf swing. Eric was always smiling ear-to-ear, had good thoughts and words about everyone and everything, and was a pleasure to know. He will always be in our hearts.

my deepest sympathys to you all at this time.

To Eric's family and friends: As a neighbour of Eric's in the Byward Market for over 40 years, I can say that his friendship, warmth, and generosity will be greatly missed by all of us who knew him. The market and the community at large are suffering a great loss this week.

May I extend to Eric's wife, daughters, Heather, David and their families condolences from both myself and Linda Grey- Martin of Calgary. We were greatly saddened to hear of your loss and our thoughts and prayers are with you at this very difficult time. My memories of Eric go back to our school days at Aylmer High.
Most sincerely,

Eric will always impress me for his generosity and compassion for the less fortunate around him be they Newfoundland fishermen, Indians, the hungry or the homeless. Please extend my sympathies at the funeral to his daughters wives, canoe partners, fellow golfers (both right-handed and left-handed) and other buddies . We affectionately called him "Savage" for the manner he addressed a golf ball on the first and last tee. !! See you later good man. Denis Braun Shanghai / Singapore