ERLING SKORPEN VERONA – Erling Skorpen died on Jan. 8, 2004, of complications of Alzheimer’s Disease. Erling, the son of John and Gyda Skorpen, was born into a Norwegian community in Brooklyn, N.Y., on Nov. 20, 1929. He earned a B.A. from the College of Idaho, an M.A. from Oxford University where he was a Rhodes Scholar, and a Ph.D. in philosophy from Yale. He taught at Yale, the University of Nevada in Reno, and the University of Maine, where he was recognized as a Distinguished Professor. While at Oxford, Erling volunteered for work camps in Sicily and Lebanon with The American Friends Service Committee. He was very active in the civil rights movement and the peace movement during the Vietnam war. Erling was a devoted husband, father and teacher. He was predeceased by his sons, Per Anders and Peter Kim; and his brother, Harold of Stuart, Fla. He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Liesel; his daughter, Kirsten and her husband, Derrick; son, Paul and his wife, Birgit; daughters, Beret and her husband, Rick, Kate and her husband, Bjorn; son, Andrew; sister, Ann Sauer of Cochecton, N.Y.; brother, John of Ridgefield, Conn.; and grandchildren, Sam, Hanna, Per, Kate, Ben, Jana, Rye, Miles and Tess. His family wishes to thank the staff of Westgate Manor for their tender care. A memorial service will be held 10 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2004, at St. John’s Episcopal Church, French St., Bangor, with the Rev. Kevin Holsapple, rector, officiating. Those who wish to remember Erling in a special way may make gifts in his memory to the American Friends Service Committee, 1501 Cherry St., Philadelphia, PA 19102 or AFSC.org. A service of Brookings-Smith, Bangor.
ERLING SKORPEN
