Eric John Pinto

1980 - 2017

Pinto, Eric John

Eric John Pinto, 37, of Binghamton, NY passed away on March 11, 2017 after a brave battle with heroin addiction.

To all of you who are facing this horrible anguish as a family or friend of an addict, please remember to love them hard and make sure they know there is nothing they could ever do to lose that love. As Eric's family, we never lost hope or belief in him.

To all of you who are addicted, remember that you are a fighter with more strength than you know. Keep fighting, no matter how many times you fall. You are battling a beast that requires both physical and emotional support.

To all of you who have not seen addiction up close, please know that so many, like Eric, get on the path from injury to addiction without ever being able to imagine the devastating consequences. Our hope is that if you do encounter this heartbreaking disease, you remember Eric and act with compassion and without judgement.

Eric was born on March 9, 1980 to Kathy and John Pinto, and graduated from Union-Endicott High School and Broome Community College.

Eric will be remembered not how he died, but he will be remembered for how he lived. He lived a full life of happiness before his injury. We will remember him as the character he was. Eric was most himself when he was laughing, having fun, and spreading unabashed love to all around him. He was so smart, witty, meticulous, spontaneous, and had his very own hilarious language. He came up with crazy nicknames for most of his friends, all of whom he loved like family. Eric was a fiercely loyal and passionate friend, ready to help at a moments notice. Growing up, he loved playing soccer, baseball, and golf. When it came to golf, nothing topped hitting those 'Crispies'. Always very athletic, you usually could find him at the gym once, if not twice a day. If asked, Eric's friends and family will tell you that he could fix virtually anything with a motor or speakers, always making sure he could cruise with music that was way too loud. He would do anything to make it to a concert that he wanted to go to, and he made it to many. They would also tell you that he let nothing, especially a car that needed fixing, get in the way of some seriously epic road trips. Besides his friends and family, most especially his mom, two things kept him going: his love of music and dogs, including his beloved dog Pepe. He and Pepe were inseparable, and as loyal to each other as could be.

Eric was predeceased by his father, John Pinto, and grandparents Jack and Elizabeth Pinto, and Anthony Hranek, and his special furry friends Elvis and Simba. He is survived by his loving and devoted mother, Kathleen LaShier (John); his two sisters Melissa Heller (Mike) and Nicole Johnston (Eric); his niece Alexandra Heller and his nephew Maxwell Johnston; his grandmother Irene Hranek; his uncle Gary Hranek (Tara) and his aunts Elizabeth Pinto and Maria Shefferman (Neal), as well as many loving cousins, and of course, Pepe. Funeral services will be held Saturday, 11:00 am at the Church of the Holy Family, 3600 Phyllis St. Endwell, NY. Burial will be at the convenience of the family. The family will receive friends at the Leon Pucedo Funeral Home, Inc. 1905 Watson Blvd. Endicott, NY on Friday from 5 to 7 pm. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in honor of Eric to the Broome County Humane Society, 2 Jackson St. Binghamton, NY 13903.