Nicholas G. Eror

Nicholas George Eror, Jr passed away on November 24, 2020 after a long illness. He was born in 1937 in Bingham Canyon, Utah to Nicholas George Eror, Sr. and Mary (Trtica) Eror. He was the second of three children and grew up in Oregon, an area that he loved.

He survived a serious bout with polio at 8 years old when he was confined to iron lung. His father stayed at his side and taught him how to breathe again. Polio left Nick with permanent disabilities: partially paralyzed diaphragm, vocal cords, and difficulty swallowing. Nick said he could always recognize a fellow polio survivor if he saw them dining.

He married Mary Frances McLure while working on his PhD in material science at Yale University, where he also attended as an undergraduate student on a full scholarship. He followed his academic advisor to Northwestern University in Illinois to complete his degree. Nick was the first in his family to earn a doctorate, and his mother and father (who was forced to quit school in 8th grade to support his family after his father died) were very proud.

Nick’s first job post graduation was at Sprague Electric in North Adams, MA (the buildings are now known as the Mass MOCA Museum). He also taught calculus as an adjunct instructor at nearby Williams College.

When Sprague Electric started having financial problems, Nick found a job at the Oregon Graduate Center in Beaverton, Oregon. It had been his dream to return to rural Oregon to raise his family. Nick worked in materials science and solid state chemistry and at the same time had a working farm in Banks, Oregon. He enjoyed taking his family fishing, skiing, and backpacking. Every year, he took his family to the Portland Rose Parade in June.

Nick was an introvert who was known for his wide breadth of knowledge on a range of topics: science, mathematics, agriculture, astronomy, modern art, chemistry, macroeconomics, politics, etc. He was also skilled mechanically; in 1969 he put together a color TV from a Heath kit so that he and his family could watch the astronauts land on the moon in color.

Nick finished his career at the University of Pittsburgh where he was hired as the department chair for the Engineering Department. He was devoted to his teaching, research, and graduate students. Post retirement, he still attended thesis defenses of his department’s students. He liked to teach and entertain his grandchildren by doing science experiments with liquid nitrogen, followed by his famous serving bowl of at least 40 scoops of various ice cream flavors carefully arranged and presented.

Nicholas was predeceased by his wife of 55 years, Mary (McLure) Eror. He is survived by his generous and devoted companion: Josephine Olson; his children: Shauna Manning, Alec Eror, Tricia Porter, and Ellyssa Eror and their spouses; his grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be private and at the convenience of the family. Funk Funeral Home is honored to serve the Eror family. Please visit Nicholas’ memorial website at www.FunkFuneralHome.com.

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