Eric Herman Joffs

Eric H. Joffs peacefully completed a full and blessed life on Monday, October 19th, at his home in North Logan, Utah. Eric was born in 1936 in Park City, Utah, to Emma and Eric Joffs. His life’s perspective grew out of the tight-knit mining community in which he was raised, his parent’s Swede Finn heritage, his father’s heroic service in World War I, and the love he received as the family’s youngest child. His youth was filled with exploring, fishing, and hunting in the beautiful mountains of Northern Utah. He often recalled his daily chore of “having to get two armloads of kindling and a bucket of coal” for the kitchen stove and the “long, steep” walk along Main Street from his home up Empire Canyon to and from school. Throughout his life, Eric maintained a keen memory of every person and place that surrounded and cultivated him. He loved to read, listen, observe, learn, and share detailed stories of his experiences and knowledge, and we were all blessed to hear them until the day he died.

Eric used his tall athleticism to excel in basketball at Park City High School. He studied and played basketball at the University of Utah before enlisting in the Navy aboard the aircraft carrier USS Hornet, where he learned to appreciate a disciplined routine and attitude that “if something was worth doing, it was worth doing well.” After his military service, he returned to study and play basketball at Westminster College, where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering and met Shirley, his dynamic soulmate from Conway, Arkansas, who brightened the rest of his life with beauty and optimism.

Eric found great loyalty and satisfaction working as an engineer for IBM for over 30 years. He and Shirley welcomed their son, Eric Andrew, while located in San Jose, California. Several years later, he transferred to Boulder, Colorado, where their daughter, Marta Lisa, was born. They enjoyed living and raising their family in the picturesque Boulder mountains for 37 years. Eric loved to do things with patience and skill. He especially enjoyed fly-fishing with his son and skiing powder at Copper Mountain with the whole family. Eric and Shirley travelled extensively throughout their lives together. Two of his favorite trips were to Finland, where he returned to the farmland his father had left as a young man, to reconnect with family there. He especially enjoyed developing a close friendship with his cousin John-Erik.

Eric was a lifelong athlete. He loved good food, watching sports, and time outdoors. He enjoyed watching his children and grandchildren excel and encouraged them in skiing, basketball, volleyball, swimming, soccer, mountain biking, and ballet. He took great care of his body, worked out faithfully, and he and Shirley’s mutual desire to live long, healthy lives grew into a mission to help others do so as well. He was proud to be the inspiration and background support for Shirley’s entrepreneurial spirit and the many lives she would impact through nutrition and light therapy.

In his retirement, Shirley convinced Eric to move from his beloved Boulder mountain home and return back to Utah so that they could be highly involved grandparents to Matthew, Emma, and Mae. Being “Papa” and “Gramps” might have been his greatest role. He savored time with his grandchildren. He played many games of hide-and-seek and Go-Fish, skied with them at Beaver Mountain, fixed every broken toy, and attended every birthday party, school event, game, and dance performance. Through his family, he leaves a legacy of unconditional love, witty humor, dedicated service, and a listening ear.

Eric was the last living member of the Park City Joffs. We picture a happy reunion with his parents, brother Robert (Janice), sister Betty (Bob), and the siblings who died tragically before he was born: Eric Leonard, Eleanor Johanna, and Helen Ethyln. He is survived by his loving wife of almost 64 years, Shirley, his son Eric A (Crystal), daughter Marta Lisa (Scott), grandchildren Matthew Eric, Emma, and Mae, and many nieces and nephews. The family thanks Hilary Lewis and her amazing staff at Cache Valley Cares for helping Eric to live at home in comfort and dignity. A service celebrating Eric’s life will be held in the First Presbyterian Church Chapel on 178 Center St. in Logan, Utah on Sunday, November 1st. In lieu of flowers, please consider planting a tree or donating in Eric’s name to the Salvation Army, which helped feed and clothe his grandfather when he immigrated to America in the late 1800’s.

Memories and condolences may be shared and expressed at www.allenmortuaries.com.