Eric Grayson Tomlins

BEACON - Eric Grayson Tomlins – teacher, husband, father, brother, poet, musician, mentor, and friend – died quietly at his life-long home in Beacon, New York, on August 30th, 2009, after a long illness. Eric was a teacher and leader for 30 years at the Randolph School in Wappingers Falls, New York. A true intellectual, he was a self-motivated learner who led by example, instilling the joy of his quest for literary, scientific, and spiritual knowledge in several generations of students, parents, and fellow educators.

His influence in progressive education extended throughout the Hudson Valley. Taking over the leadership role at the school from his mother, Lee Tomlins, Eric was the proud and unapologetic standard-bearer for Randolph's legacy of progressive education. A grand mix of passion and compassion, Eric was a great champion of his beliefs, yet he gloried in the diversity of world views that others brought to him. He had literally hundreds of friends of all walks of life and saw beauty in every person he met. People knew they could come to Eric and they would be greeted with kindness and an honest ear that was genuinely curious and interested in what they had to say. People loved to share their visions with him: They trusted him with their dreams, and he never failed to engage in their passions and concerns.Teaching was his greatest joy, although music, poetry, tennis, hiking in the Adirondacks, soccer, building rock cairns, studying film, and Ultimate Frisbee were close seconds. A passionate Yankees and Giants fan, he was nonetheless tolerant of the Mets and Jets.

Eric is survived by his two best friends, his wife Cath and son Owen; his sister Katlyn and brother-in-law Ken Lerner, nephew Adam and niece Kara; his brother Jason and sister-inlaw Tina and nephew Reuben; Mark, Diane, and Noah Boujikian; his 'second family', Kate, Lanse, Gerrit, and Evan Stover and their families; the Romano family; the loving community of the Randoph School; and many, many friends, far and wide. Arrangements by the Libby Funeral Home, Beacon, NY. There will be no calling hours. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Eric Tomlins Fund at the Randolph School, 2467 Route 9D, Wappingers Falls, NY, 12590. On Saturday September 12th, 2009, at 2:00PM, there will be a memorial gathering at The Randolph School to quielty reflect on Eric's life and the ways he inspired those around him. This will be followed by a reception and celebration at 4:00PM.

If you would like to share written or spoken memories or thoughts about Eric, there will be an opportunity at the memorial gathering, or you may send them via email to Eric's family at eric.tomlins.memorial@randolphschool.org

Published on September 01, 2009.

Below is a link to an interview done with Eric on WVKR
http://www.spiritualprogressiveshv.org/Speaking/ss-tomlins-080603.wmv

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made in Eric's honor to The Eric Tomlins Fund. Donations may be made by mail or use the link below to access Randolph School's page at justgive.org, a website for making secure donations to non-profit organizations.