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Robert Erskine Obituary
ROBERT ALDEN ERSKINE
Robert Alden Erskine, 72, died December 16, 2023 in Silver Spring, MD. The cause was brain cancer. Bob was an artist and loving husband and father. He was known for his kindness, friendly nature, and ability to make people laugh. Born in Sunnyside, Wash., he grew up hiking and fishing, and in 1975 walked the Pacific Crest Trail, 2,600 miles from Mexico to Canada with his friend Clark Casebolt. He later worked as an excavation supervisor on Bronze Age and Neolithic archaeological sites in Israel and Jordan from 1976 to 1987. He attended art school and worked the rest of his life as a painter, cartoonist, and printmaker.
He met Renee Schoof in Seattle, and they were married in 1988. They lived in New York and Beijing before moving to Silver Spring in 2000 with their daughters, Mary Claire and Ellena Erskine. He taught his daughters about art, how to build and fix things, and to value their own creative work. His funeral will be at 3 p.m. January 13 at St. Columba's Episcopal Church, Washington, DC.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Robert Erskine
3 Entries
Mary Lynn and Steve
January 16, 2024
It was always a pleasure to meet Bob and his dog on his rounds through the neighborhood. If we were lucky Renee would be with him. Bob was friendly, engaged, curious about the lives around him. The face of North Woodside. He will be deeply missed.
Anne Ainsworth
January 12, 2024
I will miss his wonderful creativity and enthusiasm for making things and his smile. My deepest sympathies to his family.
Dorie
January 11, 2024
I met Bob through the musical jam group that he founded. He was a warm, witty and fun, and generously hosted the jam at his house over the years. He connected me to a group of wonderful friends and for that, I will always be grateful. He will be missed!
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