I have thought for a long time about what I would write about Erica. Actually, I thought that I should write something for her, when she was here, so that she could read it and know that I loved her and appreciated her. I have read all of the comments below and it all holds true for my experiences with her. She made us all feel loved and important and exciting and funny! She laughed with us and listened to us talk about ourselves and our lives even when she had so much going on in hers. I know it… Read more »
Guest
Linda Engler
Erica inspired me to love life everyday. To see things in a completely different way. She expressed herself with so much joy. Her involvement in our Gurl Scout Troop was always an adventure filled with laughter and smiles. As MC at our woodland pond holiday caroling she kept us all riveted and happy and even with all of her instruments and holiday hats it’s just not the same. I really miss her in my life. I feel so lucky that our paths crossed. Her strength and courage through her cancer journey helped me to care for a friend through her… Read more »
Guest
Marc Denofio
Absolutely the best babysitter ever. Full of fun and vibrant life. My sorrow for all the Chase and Salerno families and also at the same time I know that Erica is free of the confinement that she had these past years and enjoying her old self.
Guest
Jessica Greenstein
Erica's enthusiasm for life was simply contagious! We miss her bright smile, and the energy she infused into our lives. Seeing these beautiful photos reminds us of her spirit, which will always remain with us, and is a blessing to us all. My family looks forward to celebrating Erica's life with yours on June 16th.
Guest
Gina Guarente
I am grateful to Erica for reconnecting us and our families and I feel incredibly blessed to have been such a close part of her life, even if our reconnection happened later than sooner. So many things come to mind when I think of her, but the most encapsulating times involve my children. A few come to mind: Once when going through a tough medical spike with my son Joey, I ran into her and started crying and started to apologize, but she said, "I can handle the hard stuff." This was right before her cancer diagnoses so I would… Read more »
I've been trying to find the words to express the joy I feel at having had Erica's friendship in my life, the astonishment I feel at her extreme vibrance, the inspiration I feel because of the way she fully embraced her life and her dying, and the grief I feel that we won't have deep conversations anymore, and I can only think of two words that can encompass these things: Love and gratitude. I have enormous gratitude for having known Erica. Erica is love. And, her love shines on. I love you, Erica.
These beautiful photographs totally remind me of Erica's exuberance for LIFE with a capital L. Her smile was/is unforgettable. From the days when our singing lessons were back to back at Nancy Herforth's, I have followed Erica's journey with much appreciation. More recently it was especially her contribution to the Kids ALmanac, and her openness inviting us, young and old, in to her cancer journey, dispelling fear by spreading so much courage, quirky insight and even infectious joy in darker corners of our psyches. Thank you Erica. YOur light is with us still.
Guest
Jennifer Castle
One of my favorite authors, Ken Liu, wrote, "We are defined by the places we hold in the web of others’ lives." I was reminded of this passage when reflecting on Erica's life. And what an interconnected web she wove, and made stronger. I used to joke to her that it was her fault (and Mike's) that our family ended up in the Hudson Valley after leaving California. I was doing research on areas on the East Coast, near NYC, and stumbled upon Hudson Valley Parents...where I discovered a community of like-minded people who ended up being my tribe. Ironically,… Read more »
Guest
Sam Irvine
Erica's energy penetrated everyone she met. She raised the mood in every space I shared with her. Anytime I saw Erica, she made me laugh and made me think and made me reflect; even for just a moment. Her enthusiasm for me; ME! and my children; My children! was present each time I met her despite her illness and her journey. She had the same dynamic personality the entire time I knew her. One of the last times I saw Erica in a coffee shop she handed me a beautiful little origami star and when I unfolded it, it read;… Read more »
We will miss Erica. For several years she played viola in our quartet and was a great inspiration to us all. She always had such a fantastic passion, not only for life, but for everything and everyone she knew or touched. What a rare wonderful lady she was. Thank you, Erica, for blessing us with your company, some of the time you were here with us in this earthly dimension.
Erica will be sorely missed by the 4-H Community. She showed a peerless amount of energy and enthusiasm for life, youth, and 4-H programming. Her selflessness in serving as a Volunteer in the midst of her cancer journey was remarkable. Love to Mike, Declan and Quinn, whose 4-H presentation on gemology I once had the pleasure of observing. Head On and Heart Strong Erica. Melanie and the Ulster County 4-H Team
Guest
Wendy Van Allen
I didn't know her personally, but I have been following her beautiful musings for some time online now regarding her cancer. As I sit here with tears in my eyes, I am grateful to have read her work and for the free-spirited life she lived. My deepest condolences to her family, her husband and children and all who loved her. May her Viking Ship take her home to the stars beyond the Rainbow Bridge.
Guest
Stacey Rein
Erica Chase-Salerno was the bravest woman I never knew. Writer, healer, wife, mother, friend. I know this because I'm one of the thousands who was privileged to discover her cancer journey in the folds of the Almanac. She astounded me with her humor and optimism, during what, for most of us (all of us?), would be a time to grieve. But this was not her path. No - her path was lit with an unceasing inspiration. It is a path that broke every expectation of what it means to have a terminal illness. Sharing her extraordinary wisdom and insight with… Read more »
Guest
Stephanie Ellis
There are so many things to say about Erica, but what I would want to express about her most to someone who never met her was her ability to dig deep, to face her own demons, question her own assumptions, and reinvent parts of herself over and over again. She was always so ERICA, but also so able to forget everything she thought she knew about something, drop her ego completely, and begin again with completely new ideas. I saw her do that again and again. It was remarkable. So rare to see in people. She was so curious, so… Read more »
Guest
Martha Cheo
Really liked reading this, Stephanie, thank you.
Guest
Hilary
You So beautifully captured Erica's amazing essence in this reflection.
Guest
Sheila Sweet
I knew Erica through the Shine group. I absolutely loved her spirit and energy. Over the years we would email each other and that energy was always there. The word love comes to mind when thinking of her. My heart and blessings go to her family. She will always be in our hearts.
Guest
Christine King
Erica lived, truly lived so much in her short life! I didnt know her really well but she was always an inspiration to me. As a first time, nervous homeschool mom, she gave me words of encouragement and support and let my kids choose books from her homeschool library. She had more courage than anyone else I've seen! She smiled more than most of us with good health ever did. She appreciated the little things. She promoted justice and loved all, as I saw in her writings and comments. I only hope to see her on the other side where… Read more »
Guest
Carol Conway
I am so very sorry to hear of Erica's passing. I did not know Erica very well as our lives crossed paths briefly through a ceramics class sponsored by Miles of Hope that I assisted. She was resistant at first about attending the class but in time, I know that she secretly enjoyed it especially when her brother, George, joined her in class during a visit. Her sense of humor and encouragement to others made everyone smile. I remember the last day of class, she gave everyone in the studio inspirational cards and folded paper stars with inspirational sayings inside.… Read more »
Guest
Sarah Uzelac
Erica was radical in every (great) sense of the word and I'm so glad I knew her. Love to Mike and the kids. <3
Guest
Elizabeth Key
One of the bravest people I know passed away yesterday morning. I reached out to her last week, just with a feeling that all my thoughts about her would be in vain if I didn’t since I knew there wasn’t much time left. I asked how she was and she told me things were progressing, she was finishing up. (Oof) What wise and certain words they were, to know your time is coming and face it as bravely as going to war. In my opinion, that’s exactly what she had done; she had fought with every ounce of her being… Read more »
Guest
Jeanne Peck
I never met Erica but heard so much about her uniqueness from her
parents there are no words to describe the loss of a child may God bless you with comfort
I have thought for a long time about what I would write about Erica. Actually, I thought that I should write something for her, when she was here, so that she could read it and know that I loved her and appreciated her. I have read all of the comments below and it all holds true for my experiences with her. She made us all feel loved and important and exciting and funny! She laughed with us and listened to us talk about ourselves and our lives even when she had so much going on in hers. I know it… Read more »
Erica inspired me to love life everyday. To see things in a completely different way. She expressed herself with so much joy. Her involvement in our Gurl Scout Troop was always an adventure filled with laughter and smiles. As MC at our woodland pond holiday caroling she kept us all riveted and happy and even with all of her instruments and holiday hats it’s just not the same. I really miss her in my life. I feel so lucky that our paths crossed. Her strength and courage through her cancer journey helped me to care for a friend through her… Read more »
Absolutely the best babysitter ever. Full of fun and vibrant life. My sorrow for all the Chase and Salerno families and also at the same time I know that Erica is free of the confinement that she had these past years and enjoying her old self.
Erica's enthusiasm for life was simply contagious! We miss her bright smile, and the energy she infused into our lives. Seeing these beautiful photos reminds us of her spirit, which will always remain with us, and is a blessing to us all. My family looks forward to celebrating Erica's life with yours on June 16th.
I am grateful to Erica for reconnecting us and our families and I feel incredibly blessed to have been such a close part of her life, even if our reconnection happened later than sooner. So many things come to mind when I think of her, but the most encapsulating times involve my children. A few come to mind: Once when going through a tough medical spike with my son Joey, I ran into her and started crying and started to apologize, but she said, "I can handle the hard stuff." This was right before her cancer diagnoses so I would… Read more »
I've been trying to find the words to express the joy I feel at having had Erica's friendship in my life, the astonishment I feel at her extreme vibrance, the inspiration I feel because of the way she fully embraced her life and her dying, and the grief I feel that we won't have deep conversations anymore, and I can only think of two words that can encompass these things: Love and gratitude. I have enormous gratitude for having known Erica. Erica is love. And, her love shines on. I love you, Erica.
These beautiful photographs totally remind me of Erica's exuberance for LIFE with a capital L. Her smile was/is unforgettable. From the days when our singing lessons were back to back at Nancy Herforth's, I have followed Erica's journey with much appreciation. More recently it was especially her contribution to the Kids ALmanac, and her openness inviting us, young and old, in to her cancer journey, dispelling fear by spreading so much courage, quirky insight and even infectious joy in darker corners of our psyches. Thank you Erica. YOur light is with us still.
One of my favorite authors, Ken Liu, wrote, "We are defined by the places we hold in the web of others’ lives." I was reminded of this passage when reflecting on Erica's life. And what an interconnected web she wove, and made stronger. I used to joke to her that it was her fault (and Mike's) that our family ended up in the Hudson Valley after leaving California. I was doing research on areas on the East Coast, near NYC, and stumbled upon Hudson Valley Parents...where I discovered a community of like-minded people who ended up being my tribe. Ironically,… Read more »
Erica's energy penetrated everyone she met. She raised the mood in every space I shared with her. Anytime I saw Erica, she made me laugh and made me think and made me reflect; even for just a moment. Her enthusiasm for me; ME! and my children; My children! was present each time I met her despite her illness and her journey. She had the same dynamic personality the entire time I knew her. One of the last times I saw Erica in a coffee shop she handed me a beautiful little origami star and when I unfolded it, it read;… Read more »
We will miss Erica. For several years she played viola in our quartet and was a great inspiration to us all. She always had such a fantastic passion, not only for life, but for everything and everyone she knew or touched. What a rare wonderful lady she was. Thank you, Erica, for blessing us with your company, some of the time you were here with us in this earthly dimension.
Erica will be sorely missed by the 4-H Community. She showed a peerless amount of energy and enthusiasm for life, youth, and 4-H programming. Her selflessness in serving as a Volunteer in the midst of her cancer journey was remarkable. Love to Mike, Declan and Quinn, whose 4-H presentation on gemology I once had the pleasure of observing. Head On and Heart Strong Erica. Melanie and the Ulster County 4-H Team
I didn't know her personally, but I have been following her beautiful musings for some time online now regarding her cancer. As I sit here with tears in my eyes, I am grateful to have read her work and for the free-spirited life she lived. My deepest condolences to her family, her husband and children and all who loved her. May her Viking Ship take her home to the stars beyond the Rainbow Bridge.
Erica Chase-Salerno was the bravest woman I never knew. Writer, healer, wife, mother, friend. I know this because I'm one of the thousands who was privileged to discover her cancer journey in the folds of the Almanac. She astounded me with her humor and optimism, during what, for most of us (all of us?), would be a time to grieve. But this was not her path. No - her path was lit with an unceasing inspiration. It is a path that broke every expectation of what it means to have a terminal illness. Sharing her extraordinary wisdom and insight with… Read more »
There are so many things to say about Erica, but what I would want to express about her most to someone who never met her was her ability to dig deep, to face her own demons, question her own assumptions, and reinvent parts of herself over and over again. She was always so ERICA, but also so able to forget everything she thought she knew about something, drop her ego completely, and begin again with completely new ideas. I saw her do that again and again. It was remarkable. So rare to see in people. She was so curious, so… Read more »
Really liked reading this, Stephanie, thank you.
You So beautifully captured Erica's amazing essence in this reflection.
I knew Erica through the Shine group. I absolutely loved her spirit and energy. Over the years we would email each other and that energy was always there. The word love comes to mind when thinking of her. My heart and blessings go to her family. She will always be in our hearts.
Erica lived, truly lived so much in her short life! I didnt know her really well but she was always an inspiration to me. As a first time, nervous homeschool mom, she gave me words of encouragement and support and let my kids choose books from her homeschool library. She had more courage than anyone else I've seen! She smiled more than most of us with good health ever did. She appreciated the little things. She promoted justice and loved all, as I saw in her writings and comments. I only hope to see her on the other side where… Read more »
I am so very sorry to hear of Erica's passing. I did not know Erica very well as our lives crossed paths briefly through a ceramics class sponsored by Miles of Hope that I assisted. She was resistant at first about attending the class but in time, I know that she secretly enjoyed it especially when her brother, George, joined her in class during a visit. Her sense of humor and encouragement to others made everyone smile. I remember the last day of class, she gave everyone in the studio inspirational cards and folded paper stars with inspirational sayings inside.… Read more »
Erica was radical in every (great) sense of the word and I'm so glad I knew her. Love to Mike and the kids. <3
One of the bravest people I know passed away yesterday morning. I reached out to her last week, just with a feeling that all my thoughts about her would be in vain if I didn’t since I knew there wasn’t much time left. I asked how she was and she told me things were progressing, she was finishing up. (Oof) What wise and certain words they were, to know your time is coming and face it as bravely as going to war. In my opinion, that’s exactly what she had done; she had fought with every ounce of her being… Read more »
I never met Erica but heard so much about her uniqueness from her
parents there are no words to describe the loss of a child may God bless you with comfort