Maine - Eric Halse, 48, died Friday, May 7th, 2021 from complications of cardiac arrest at Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston, Maine, surrounded by his loving family.
Throughout his all too brief life, the thing that comes to mind about Eric was how kind and gentle a soul he was. He had a brilliant, inquisitive mind, a thirst for knowledge, and a never-ending devotion to all living things. He had a stubborn streak a mile wide, an uncanny ability to separate fact from fiction and the desire to constantly seek new and exciting opportunities to grow.
Eric was born in Niskayuna, NY to Patrick and Midge (Wheeler) Halse and grew up in Duanesburg, New York, graduating in 1990 from Duanesburg Central. It was there that he first discovered the world of computers. After gaining numerous certifications from various colleges and institutions, he had a diverse career centered on the digital world.
A born diplomat and teacher, Eric gravitated towards teaching early in his career (and was thereby instrumental in elevating the skill set of many an IT professional), then transitioning over time to positions including Systems Analyst, Systems Engineer, Global Field Service Engineer, Solution Architect and Sr. Product Manager for Cloud and Data Services.
Eric's most recent work was with FirstLight Fiber (formerly Oxford Networks) and his fellow employees offered the following about Eric:
• "…incredibly smart, creative and just a complete pleasure to work with."
• "Eric is held in high esteem … for his technical aptitude, collaborative approach, and optimistic outlook."
• "His upbeat personality, inquisitive nature, and concern for his employees made him one of my favorite people to work with. I’ve never seen the man angry or negative. He absolutely loved his job and his people and gave his all to both. I’d call him a ‘human smiley emoji’."
One of Eric's favorite sayings - "Nothing beats a failure but a try." - reflected his overall attitude towards life and as much as Eric poured into his career, his love for his family was unparalleled. He was gifted at seeing potential that others so often overlooked. Rusty car found in the woods? Bring it home and give it a new life. (Especially if it was a Volvo.) 'Unadoptable' pet at the shelter? Bring it home and give it a new life. Eric was unfailingly kind and also infinitely patient - an amazing quality given the speed at which his mind worked.
In addition to the energy that Eric brought to his work and family, Eric also had many and diverse interests including being an avid fan of the New York Yankees and the Pittsburgh Steelers. He loved music and played many instruments. He loved animals and rescued many from shelters during his life. He was a self-taught carpenter and wood worker. He would repurpose items and give them a new life. He was lovingly restoring a 200-year-old farmhouse (which included classic moments such as the 'shower' of mammalian remains on one special 'demo' day), as well as many pieces of antique furniture to fill it. Eric had a passion for collecting classic cars and returning them to their former glory. He particularly loved his classic Volvos and a vintage International Harvester Scout - Eric had a talent for seeing beauty in things that would escape other people. He was also a very talented vintner and mazer.
He is survived by his loving and devoted wife, Colleen (Regan); his son, Marcus; daughter Hollie and her partner Ryan Britton and their children (Dakota, Hayden, Marley, Gabriel, Madeline); daughter Laura, stepson Sam Buxbaum, his mother Midge Halse; his sister, Laura Nealon; his sisters-in-law, Diana and Kathie Regan and Patricia Ebersole; his nieces, Samantha Nealon, Cheyenne Nealon, Katie (Ethan) Hale; his beloved Aunt and Uncle, Laura and Mark Kenific; his Uncle John Wheeler, numerous cousins and his very good friends Rick and Terry Foss.
He was predeceased by his father, Patrick Halse, his maternal grandparents John and Margaret Wheeler, his grandmother, Margaret Ames, and his in-laws, Thomas and Florence Regan.
Family and friends are invited to attend a memorial service to be held on Saturday, May 22nd between 5-7 pm at White-Van Buren Funeral Home, 1779 Main St. Delanson, NY. Inurnment was held in Maine.
The family would like to thank all the doctors and nurses at Central Maine Medical Center for their valiant efforts and loving care on his behalf.
In recognition of Eric's love of animals and his ongoing support of a local animal shelter, memorial contributions may be made to Responsible Pet Care at 9 Lower Swallow Rd, South Paris, ME 04281.
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