From the classroom to the political arena, Pennsylvania Senator Ted Erickson ’60 says, “I enjoy the challenge of trying to do something to help people who can’t help themselves. It is very rewarding to me.” Erickson was honored for his passion for helping people as he was presented with the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce’s 2001 Citizen of the Year Award. According to the Ridley Press, Erickson’s lifetime of work and devotion has made Delaware County a cleaner, healthier and more prosperous place to live, work and raise a family.

After receiving a B.S. in biology and chemistry from Albright and his Ph.D. in biochemistry and microbiology from Bryn Mawr College, Erickson went on to teach at Drexel University, East Stroudsburg State College and finally at Hamilton College until 1973. But it was at Albright, Erickson says, that he discovered a love for the environment. “We would go out collecting with Dr. Swartz and I remember just enjoying nature.”

He moved from teaching to the position of Upper Darby’s director of public health. “I got into public health because it was closely related to my background in biology,” he says. This position eventually led to others within the county. Erickson also served for a time as regional administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region III. He was responsible for a workforce of approximately 1,000 people overseeing 150 Super Fund sites and over 3,000 other potentially hazardous sites.

Prior to being elected to the Pennsylvania State Senate in 2001, Erickson served for nine years as executive director of Delaware County, overseeing government operations in one of the largest counties in the Commonwealth. As executive director, Erickson began the process of making the local government more accessible to the public. “We moved facilities for things such as public health, so services could be provided where more people were located.”

He also oversaw the research and renovation of the county’s historic courthouse as well as coordinated a training program in communications for the more than 40 department heads of the county. “That program allowed everyone to work closer together,” he says.

As a State Senator, one of Erickson’s biggest concerns is the environment, specifically air pollution. Due to western and southern prevailing winds, which bring pollution from other states to ours, air pollution is a main concern in Pennsylvania. “Even on a seemingly clear day you can still look towards the horizon and see some clouding,” he says.

Transportation is also an important focus because of an enormous increase in the number and size of cars. One thing that can be done is the production of cleaner cars. However, Erickson says, “That can be unpopular because the price of the car increases.” Businesses operating in a manner in which they reduce the production of toxins are also better for the environment. “It is actually cheaper, for the business, not to have to dispose of toxins,” he says.

With his involvement on many public health and environmental action boards in both Harrisburg and Delaware County, Erickson keeps a busy schedule, running between his two offices. However, he says with fond remembrance, when he thinks back to his time at Albright, his life was, “not busy at all…even carefree.”

— Amy M. Buzinski ’03