No one was like our brother, and it will be hard to imagine life without him. Eric John Shoemaker died on Wednesday, September 14, 2022 surrounded by loving family members after valiant efforts to save his life at Beth Israel Hospital in Boston. He peacefully ascended to his eternal rest.

"If a man can bridge the gap between life and death, if he can live after he's died, then maybe he was a great man." Eric, known by most as Ric, was a classic movie aficionado and this quote attributed to James Dean captures the very essence of Ric, who will continue to live on because he touched so many people with his loving and generous spirit, his dedication to people who need our assistance, not to mention his quirky personality.

Eric is survived by siblings Julianne Belcher (Robert), Rusty Meadows (Randy), Thomas Shoemaker (Amy), Kirsten Shoemaker, Amy Gaytan (Larry), Kurt Shoemaker (Gabby) as well as his friend and housemate Dan Evanoff of Plaistow and numerous lifelong friends.  He was an adored uncle and recently became a grand uncle. He was devoted to his cousins and was like a brother to many of them. He was cherished by his close-knit network of friends from Haverhill to Groveland to Portland to Japan - Ric will be missed by all who came into contact with him.

Born on April 24, 1964, a graduate of Haverhill High School and an alumni of American International College, Ric was an imaginative artist, creative writer and poet and a talented musician. He was not shy about telling people the source of his creative inspiration as he believed in the afterlife and the notion that we are not alone. He was the family historian and went to great lengths to systematically investigate our lineage and proudly preserved sacred artifacts from our ancestors. However, Ric's career as a devoted caregiver, who promoted quality of life for people who need assistance, was his true legacy.  Indeed, Ric will "live after he's died" when we remember his devotion to us all.

Relatives and friends are invited to calling hours to be held on Tuesday, September 20, 2022 from 4-6pm at Brookside Chapel & Funeral Home, 116 Main St., Plaistow, NH. A Funeral service will follow at 6:30pm in the funeral home.

Memorial gifts may be made to the Arc of Massachusetts, 217 South Street Waltham, MA 02453:  P: (781) 891-6270 arcmass@arcmass.org

https://www.thearcofmass.org/