Eric Strayer

He was kind, concerned, and interested in everyone he met. Eric Paul Strayer, age 68, of Marina, California, passed away peacefully on December 12, 2017. A remembrance gathering of family and friends will be held after the first of the year. Eric was born in San Jose, California, on October 21, 1949. He graduated from Lincoln High School in San Jose, California, and continued later, as an adult reentry student, to receive a BA in Sociology at the University of California at Santa Cruz, and a MA in Sociology at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Eric was married to Sherry Holston deChamplon on August 25, 2006. They were married 11 years. Eric worked as a sociology instructor at Hartnell College for 15 years. He also taught classes at Brandman University, Monterey Peninsula College, and Excelsior College. Teaching was his second career, and he loved it. Prior to teaching, Eric was a fixture of the Santa Cruz, California restaurant and wine scene in the ‘60s, ’70’s and ‘80s. He worked at the original Catalyst, and published a book of photography on the subject. Later, with his previous wife Marilyn Emery, he owned the Pearl Alley Bistro, also in Santa Cruz. Eric enjoyed reading and conversation, music and art, as well as preparing and sharing good food and wine with friends. He worked tirelessly to engage meaningfully with his students, and his organizing and negotiation work with the Hartnell College Faculty Association was also very important to him. Eric was especially fond of his nephews David and Scott, who were more like brothers to him over the years, and with whom he shared his love of music, culture, and philosophy. Eric is survived by his wife Sherry Strayer of Marina, CA, sister Susannah Wesley Strayer Crosby of Highlands Ranch, Colorado, nephews David Edward Strayer (Susan) of Nashville, TN, Scott James Strayer (Kathryn) of Redwood City, CA, Paul Strayer of Ensenada, Mexico, Mark Strayer of Merced, CA, nieces Gayle Speare of Carmel, CA, Sheryl Boyle of Arroyo Grande, CA, Carrie Elizabeth Martin of Lawton, OK, and Deborah Keller of Portland, OR, sisters in law, Audrey and Eula Strayer. Eric is preceded in death by his son, Donovan James Strayer (son of Eric and Teri), his brothers Newell Elmore Strayer, Michael George Strayer, and Phillip Hubert Strayer, parents Rev. James Hubert Strayer and Lois Elmore Strayer, and half-brother Richard Strayer. Eric had an enduring concern for those struggling to survive in society, and therefore, in lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to Dorothy’s Place, P.O. Box 2027, Salinas, CA 93902-2027 www.dorothysplace.org/donate Service Information