Gregory P. Erickson of Wilmington, known to family and friends as Greg or Moose, died peacefully on November 2, 2026 at MelroseWakefield Hospital. He was 79.
He was born in Holyoke on September 23, 1947, the son of Arthur and Madeleine (Benson) Erickson, and grew up in Southampton, graduating from Holyoke High School. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in May 1966, served overseas during the Vietnam War and was decorated for that service, left active duty in February 1970 and stayed in the Marine Corps Reserve until May 1972. He then finished his education at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
He married Paulette (Drouin) Erickson on April 16, 1977; they were married 49 years and settled in Wilmington more than 40 years ago, where they raised their children, Mary and Mark. For more than 24 years he was the Town of Wilmington’s director of public health, and in 1991 and 1992 he was president of the Massachusetts Health Officers Association. His family says the builders, colleagues and coworkers he dealt with over those years became friends, and that he was known as much for his good humor as for his knowledge of the job.
He rode a Harley-Davidson and was one of the founders of the Boston chapter of the Nam Knights, a motorcycle club of veterans, serving as its president for more than ten years. He earned a black belt in karate, shot pool, spent time at the VFW with fellow veterans and liked a competitive game of Scrabble.
He leaves his wife, Paulette; his daughter, Mary Hobal; his son, Mark Erickson, and his wife, Brittany; and his grandchildren, Alyssa Doherty and her husband, Benjamin, Alexa Hobal, Michael London and Emily Erickson. He was looking forward to the arrival of a grandson, Jack. His brothers, Roger and Richard Royer, died before him.
Visiting hours will be held Sunday, November 8, 2026 from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. at the Nichols Funeral Home, 187 Middlesex Avenue, Route 62, Wilmington, followed at 2:30 p.m. by a service celebrating his life and military honors. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758516, Topeka, KS 66675-8516.
Compiled from information published by Nichols Funeral Home, 187 Middlesex Avenue, Wilmington. Photograph courtesy of the family via Nichols Funeral Home. This is our own summary, not the family’s obituary; read the full obituary and leave a condolence at the funeral home’s page on Legacy.com. Corrections: we will fix any error promptly.
