Eric Roberts

                                                   ERIC C. ROBERTS

If there is any word (other than perhaps the mention of Diana Ross) that capsulizes Eric Roberts, it probably is “relationships.” 

Some years ago, when Eric was assigned by his advertising company to the McDonald’s account, he developed a novel promotion for soft drinks – “relationsips.” His idea was a success. Only Eric could somehow inject a humanizing element into the promotion of a soft drink! But the McDonald’s account (which was his professional specialty for many years) was always more than just hamburgers. For example, during the 2007 presidential election, he convinced McDonald’s franchisees to raise the awareness of voting. The non-partisan initiative was an extraordinary feat in the corporate world. He was determined to persuade others of the importance of civic involvement in our turbulent world. On another front, Eric worked with McDonald’s operators in a campaign to promote the then-recent release of a book about the baseball legend, Jackie Robinson. He thought that the world should know more about the African American icon, his life, character, and accomplishments.

On March 23, 2025, Eric Roberts, resident of Rydal, PA, died at home after a 32-month struggle with pancreatic cancer. He was 62.

Born in Philadelphia, Eric was a proud graduate of Church Farm School, a private secondary school in Exton, Pennsylvania. At Emerson University (Boston), he majored in communications (of course).

His professional life began at the Wang Center in Boston. Eric then assumed a series of increasingly challenging positions in the advertising/marketing world: McCann-Erickson Worldwide; Laurence, Charles, Free & Lawson; Arnold Worldwide Advertising; and Moroch. At the time of his death, Eric was Executive Vice President at Pitch Black, a media company dedicated to building a mosaic of marketing connections with diverse communities. And, at various times, to expand his horizons and keep busy, he also had stints at the Philadelphia Museum of Art (development) and Primex Garden Center (Glenside, PA). To exercise his extraordinary creative talents, he also developed a greeting card company (EZ Cards through Etsy) as a side-line. So many people have been the beneficiary of his novel, hand-written, and often zany cards! For many, these cards (especially the “smoking nun”) and his personalized messages have become keepsakes.

Eric is survived by his devoted husband/partner of 37 years, Zygmont (Zyg) Pines – and their crazy Cairn terrier, Chelsea. He leaves behind a grief-stricken family, including Diane and Dave Binder; Simone and Ed White; April and Chris Lewis; Bret Binder and Christina Travaglini; John White; Megan, Pieter, and Sophia Goossens; Samantha, Alison, and Olivia Lewis; Carmen Stauffer; cousins Hiram Jackson, Keith Owens, and Mark Owens. Eric is also survived by his mother, Yvonne Roberts, and aunt, Gloria Owens. Predeceasing Eric are his father, Charles Roberts, and stepfather, James Burks, as well as his adorable and crazy canine kids over the years (Spot, Helen, Ross, Will and Grace).

Eric has left a tremendously large “circle of love,” friends too numerous to mention. But their love and friendship are recognized through the gallery of pictures that will be shared in the future. Eric adored all of you (and the many others whose pictures were not available). Your many thoughtful cards and messages to him were like medicine. The kind gestures uplifted his heart.

Special acknowledgment must go to the incredibly kind and caring medical team that helped Eric during his cancer journey: the Jefferson Hospital medical team of Dr. Charles Yeo, Dr. Steve Cohen, and Dr. Maurice Gross; the Asplundh Kimmel Cancer Center staff of superlative nurses and administrative personnel; the Jefferson-Abington Hospital oncology wing; and the kind nurses of Bayada Hospice (Toni, John, Sean, and Laura) that helped Eric in his “transition.” At Eric’s side throughout his illness were Rev. Bernie Poppe and Cathy Nobil-Dutton -- you provided such great psychological comfort and counsel. Your coming into his life was a serendipitous divine intervention.

As a final note, family and friends of Eric surely recognized that he steadfastly lived according to basic principles: always do the right thing, act with honesty and integrity, treat others with kindness and compassion (even his “tart tongue” came from a deep sense of caring), and spend the time and effort to let others know (in person or especially by a few lines in a card) that you are thinking of them and are grateful for their act or gift of kindness. He lived the message of a favorite Diana Ross song -- reach out and touch somebody’s hand, make this a better place if you can…

Following this generalized narrative is a beautiful letter that his long-time friend, Lynn Bendann, wrote to Eric the week before his death. Lynn condenses a life well-lived in a few paragraphs (below).

Eric’s physical body is gone but his spirit will always be with us. Rest in peace, dear Eric.

Special thanks to Helweg & Roland Funeral Home for their care and assistance in this difficult time. (helwegrowlandfh.com)

(A celebration of Eric’s life and legacy is scheduled for June 7, 2025.Details to follow.)

Please see the below beautifully penned letter from Eric's dear friend Lynn:

Dear Eric,  

When Zig called with the news, my first impulse was to get in the car and head to Rydal as I did long ago when you shared other health news. But Zig advised not to, that you needed your space, your privacy. Understood.  

But I do need to reach out to you. So, forgive the intrusion, but I couldn't not write, not after all the missives that have passed between us, mostly from you in that bold, linear script, usually with a symbolic or humorous or profound graphic on the card, or envelope, or stamp and a lot fewer from me to you and Zig. Those letters, your commitment to connection, were your message that love isn't a moment on a calendar but a daily act of being present in someone's life. And they worked. Every envelope opening was a moment of joy, of seeing your face, reading your message, feeling connected. I have a stack of them.

And we have a stack of cd's you so carefully crafted for us, sharing your passion for music, how it brought you joy and solace and inspiration and awakened a part of you that nothing else could touch. How it was second nature to you to share generously and thoughtfully the things that mattered to you.  

And what a gift you share in your love of nature. Your passion for planting bulbs, tending plants and trees, creating gardens that have timely blossoms all through the seasons. And your ingenious creations to handle nature's challenge with nature's power. The makers of Irish Spring will be forever in your debt, I'm sure, as will the rest of us for using your concoctions.  

Of course, there is your love of cooking, shared with us through so many meals and then so many texted pictures of recent creations. We will never forget pickle pizza, not to mention all those pastry delights. We loved knowing what you were cooking up. It was like being in the kitchen and at the table with you. Your sharing always added another lovely layer to our lives, some icing on the cake.  

And there is the man you are and always will be in our hearts. Handsome, of course, with a beautiful smile. Generous and thoughtful of those you love. Playful, experimental, professional, and creative. Strong and powerful in defending your identity in a world with trigger-ignited prejudice. And privately a battleground for the many Eric's in your soul, each a genuine part of you and each weighed and measured, sometimes censored, sometimes celebrated by you. Your inner struggles have been tumultuous at times but all we see is a man so dedicated to honesty and integrity, to respecting others, to offering the best part of yourself, that we always know you can be trusted no matter what. And of course, a personality so winning, so engaging, and so energetic. You entertained us with your sometimes habits of lavish indulgences ("I bought them in every color!") and your gift for sharing daily life with both humor and honesty.  

I will keep writing to you in my mind because you will always be there as you have been for these past thirty-five years or so. Thank you for letting us be part of that inner space you preserved for so few. It has been a treasured place to be.  

With all my heart and love,  

Lynn  

(Forgive the typing; I would not ask anyone to tolerate my handwriting.)  March 18, 2025