GE
Gaalen Erickson1942—2026
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In loving memory

Gaalen
Erickson

August 3, 1942 August 30, 2026

Educator, maker, husband, father, and friend. A life guided by curiosity, generosity, and the quiet pleasure of making something beautiful by hand.

Remember his life
Gaalen Erickson at a family celebration

“He was a wonderful husband
and the best of Dads.”

— Lynda and Kris

A life of curiosity & care

Teacher. Traveller.
Woodturner.

Born in Lethbridge and raised in Warner, Alberta, Gaalen built a life around learning—and helping others learn. His career in science and teacher education brought him to the University of British Columbia, where the students and colleagues he met enriched his life as deeply as he enriched theirs.

In retirement, that same thoughtful attention found a new form at the lathe: fallen trees became bowls, long journeys became stories, and time with family remained the centre of it all.

The educator

A high-school science teacher, professor, mentor, and scholar whose generosity shaped generations of educators.

The companion

A devoted husband and father who found joy in travel, golf, shared meals, working in his shop, ambitious projects, and enduring friendships.

The maker

A woodturner drawn to fallen trees, beautiful grain, and useful forms, happiest when working together with friends and fellow turners in his shop.

A young Gaalen holding his son, Kris
Gaalen and Kris

A generous life,
richly lived.

Gaalen Erickson passed away peacefully at Vancouver General Hospital on August 30, 2026, with his loving wife Lynda with him. He will be sadly missed by his son Kris and daughter-in-law Lisa, sister Joye Wachtler, sister-in-law Liz Horcica, his niece and nephews, and his many friends, former students, and fellow woodturners.

Gaalen was born in Lethbridge, Alberta, and grew up in nearby Warner. He graduated from the University of Alberta with a Bachelor of Education and a Master of Science in Chemistry. Later, he attended the University of British Columbia, where he earned a Doctorate of Education. He joined the UBC Faculty of Education as a faculty member in 1975.

He was most grateful for the rewarding and enriching personal and intellectual life that he experienced through teaching and supervising so many graduate students, and through the academic interactions he had with colleagues in the teacher and science education community in British Columbia and internationally.

He received teaching awards from the Killam Foundation, the Association of BC Deans of Education, and the Faculty of Education at UBC. In 2007, he was awarded an honorary doctorate from Uppsala University in Sweden.

After he retired in 2010, he and Lynda enjoyed travelling and playing golf in many places, both locally and farther afield. He became an avid woodturner early in his retirement, spending many happy hours in his shop turning beautiful wood sourced locally from fallen trees and enjoying the camaraderie of his woodturning friends.

He was a wonderful husband and the best of Dads. Lynda and Kris wish to thank the many medical professionals who treated him throughout his journeys with cancer. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the BC Cancer Foundation.

His woodworking

A lifelong love
of wood, renewed

“My fascination with working with wood was reignited.”— Gaalen
Visit Gaalen’s original woodworking site

The beginning

Live Edge Maple Bowl made by Gaalen
Live Edge Maple Bowl
Plum Bowl made by Gaalen
Plum Bowl
Oak Fruit Bowl made by Gaalen
Oak Fruit Bowl

The beginning

Live Edge Maple Bowl made by Gaalen
Live Edge Maple Bowl

Plum Bowl made by Gaalen
Plum Bowl

Oak Fruit Bowl made by Gaalen
Oak Fruit Bowl

A return to the lathe

Nested Maple Burl Bowls made by Gaalen
Nested Maple Burl Bowls
Maple Vase made by Gaalen
Maple Vase
Turned Candlesticks made by Gaalen
Turned Candlesticks

A return to the lathe

Nested Maple Burl Bowls made by Gaalen
Nested Maple Burl Bowls

Maple Vase made by Gaalen
Maple Vase

Turned Candlesticks made by Gaalen
Turned Candlesticks

Backyard Bowl

Spalted Maple Bowl made by Gaalen
Spalted Maple Bowl
Lidded Box made by Gaalen
Lidded Box
Arbutus Bench made by Gaalen
Arbutus Bench

Backyard Bowl

Spalted Maple Bowl made by Gaalen
Spalted Maple Bowl

Lidded Box made by Gaalen
Lidded Box

Arbutus Bench made by Gaalen
Arbutus Bench

In their words

Remembrances

Stories from friends, colleagues, and former students—shared without names, in keeping with the family’s wishes.

01
“His kindness, positive attitude, humour, and confidence in me made a lasting difference.”
— A colleague at UBCRead letterClose letter

Dear Lynda,

Although we have never met, I wanted to write to tell you how deeply saddened I was to hear the news about Gaalen. I came to UBC in 2010, the same year Gaalen retired, so our time in the department was not expected to overlap. Yet Gaalen went out of his way to welcome and mentor me. He visited my classes, generously shared his materials and ideas, and made me feel that I belonged. As a fellow professor, you will understand how much it meant to a new colleague that someone of Gaalen’s stature took such a genuine interest in her work. His kindness, positive attitude, humour, and confidence in me made a lasting difference.

I still keep Gaalen’s book on the history of science in my office and continue to use it in my work. It is a treasured reminder of him and of everything I learned from him. Gaalen’s influence extended far beyond UBC. When I travel and mention my department, people often ask whether it is Gaalen’s department. I have always felt proud to say that I was his colleague. His name, scholarship, and humanity touched so many people, both here and around the world.

My colleagues and I will remember Gaalen with great affection and gratitude. We will do our best to carry forward the work he began and the generous spirit with which he approached it. Please accept my most heartfelt condolences. I am so very sorry for your loss.

02
“Although he faced incredible medical issues, he never seemed to let them dictate his life.”
— A woodturning friendRead letterClose letter

Lynda,

I am so sorry for your and Kris’ loss. I will miss Gaalen. He was a good friend and woodturning buddy.

I’m glad that he was able to play golf and spend time in his shop until the end. He was an inspiration for all of us. Although he faced incredible medical issues, he never seemed to let them dictate his life. He continued golfing and turning regardless of what was thrown at him and always had a positive outlook.

I feel fortunate that I met Gaalen and the other wood whackers after I retired. I had so much fun with him, whether it was working communally in Gaalen’s or a friend’s shop; harvesting wood in the pouring rain; getting together for a coffee or a beer; or spending an evening together with the woodturners and their wives. He was always fun to be around.

Gaalen was an incredible person, and I feel so fortunate to have known him.

03
“He was the guy whose life was full of projects—forecast, completed, or almost there.”
— A lifelong friendRead letterClose letter

Who was this guy?

He was the guy who spiked my Coke at my bachelor party, with ethanol accessed from his chemistry lab.

He was the guy who came late to my wedding because he was playing baseball.

He was the guy who convinced my wife that the kitchen renovation she wanted me to do was doable with a couple of well-placed hammer blows. He was the guy who helped me fix the mess.

He was the guy who allowed me to assist in renovating his own home. He was the guy who invited me to Sonora Island to help build a holiday cabin.

He was the guy whose life was full of projects—forecast, completed, or almost there. He was the guy who always had a fabulous red wine to bring to dinner.

He was the guy who was my closest friend. He was the guy!

04
“His approach to academic life shaped my own, and the kind of supervisor I became.”
— A former doctoral studentRead letterClose letter

Dear Lynda and Kris,

My wife and I are deeply saddened to hear this. Gaalen was an exceptional supervisor, and I feel truly fortunate to have completed my PhD under his guidance. His influence on my academic and personal life was profound. I will always remember his generosity, wisdom and encouragement, and the kindness he showed to us as students. His approach to academic life and to working with others shaped my own, and in turn had a lasting influence on the kind of academic and supervisor I became.

We also feel very fortunate to have known you both so well, and to have shared many happy times together. We will always cherish those memories. Kris, we did not get to know you well, but over the years we heard so much about you and Lisa from your mom and dad, always with great pride and affection.

I wish I had been able to send Gaalen a final message during those last few days. At the same time, I am very grateful that, not long before then, he and I were able to exchange one last set of meaningful emails. That exchange means a great deal to me, and I will treasure it.

Please accept our heartfelt condolences. Our thoughts are very much with you both, and with all your family.

Celebration of life

Gathering to remember Gaalen

Details will be shared here when arrangements are complete.

In lieu of flowers

Honour Gaalen with a gift to BC Cancer Foundation.

With gratitude to the medical professionals who cared for Gaalen throughout his journeys with cancer.

Give in memory