Darlene Ellen Erickson

Dr. Darlene Ellen Erickson, PhD, of New Albany, OH, and parishioner of St. Edward the Confessor Catholic Church, died at Sunrise of Gahanna on Wednesday, January 15, 2025. She was born in Bay City, MI on November 5, 1941, to the late Durward J. "Dar" and Laura Mae (Monaghan) Williams.
Valedictorian of St. Joseph High School in Bay City, MI, Darlene received her BA in English from Aquinas College, MA from Western Michigan University, and Ph.D. from Miami University. She was an English teacher at Newark High School and was the Coordinator of the Gifted Programs in Central Ohio. While at Miami University, she taught freshman composition and literature and was a Fellow with The Ohio Writing Project. Subsequent professorships followed at The Ohio State University-Newark, Ashland-Otterbein College, and Ohio Dominican University where she was the chair of the Freshman Year Experience, chair of the Faculty Development Committee, and chair of the Department of English, 1991-98. During her time at ODU, she won the Conley Award for distinguished teaching in 1991 and was named the Master Teacher in the Humanities for 2002-2003. Later, Dr. Darlene was honored with the title Professor Emerita.
A leading scholar in the works of the poet Marianne Moore, she authored Illusion Is More Precise than Precision: The Poetry of Marianne Moore published by the University of Alabama Press and nominated for a Christian Gauss Award given by the Phi Beta Kappa Society. A pioneer for computers in the classroom, she was a founding member of the Technology Planning Task Force of the Ohio Foundation of Independent Colleges. Dr. Darlene was also a member of the International Society for Contemporary Literature and Theatre (ISCLT). An accomplished artist excelling in the medium of watercolor, she also enjoyed international travel and spending time at her beloved Briny Breezes, FL.
She will be greatly missed by her husband, Lawrence "Larry" Erickson Jr.; son, Lawrence "Larry" Erickson III; daughter, Mary (Mitya) Pavlovcic; grandchildren, Jordan (Jen) Erickson, Austin Erickson, Olivia Erickson, and Helena Pavlovcic; sister, Suzanne (David) Engemann; brother, Richard (Ruth) Williams; and many nieces and nephews. In addition, Dr. Darlene leaves legions of former students from MI, IL, and OH whose lives were enriched by her passion and gift for teaching.
A Memorial Mass for Darlene will take place at 11 a.m. Friday, May 23, 2025 at St. Brigid of Kildare Catholic Church, 207 E. Ashman St., with inurnment to follow in Old Calvary Cemetery. Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider Little Sisters of the Poor Washington DC, Jeanne Jugan Residence, 4200 Harewood Road NE, Washington, DC 20017-1554, .