Eric Longfellow's History

 

Eric, a former student-athlete of Heritage High School, graduated in 1984. His interests and strengths were many beginning very early in his life. He played football and baseball from little league through high school and college. He received honors at the 1982 Heritage Baseball Awards banquet for the most RBI’s, most stolen bases, and highest batting average. He suffered a serious eye injury later, which limited his future in baseball.  Eric, as a senior A-B student and outstanding athlete was offered several athletic scholarships including the Naval and Air Force Academy, Georgia Tech, with Vanderbilt University’s scholarship offer his final choice. After knee injuries and subsequent surgery, Eric helped in the athletic training department before graduating from Vanderbilt in 1989. Eric stated he was very proud of his college education.  His post-graduate work brought him to the world of computers in Tennessee, Alabama, and eventually into the family business in Georgia where he served as an executive vice president and a regional director in the private probation industry.  

Eric was an avid golfer, loved riding his bike for fitness, learned to play the guitar sharing his music with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at Vanderbilt.  He was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity.  As a devout Christian he served as an elder in his church for nine years, loved to teach Sunday school and served as a guest speaker for Sunday services.  Eric was a great cook, loved to read, didn’t like controversy though liked to debate issues.  He had a dry sense of humor, which prevailed during tough times.  

Eric’s family was his primary focus.  His wife, Starla and daughter, Jordan were the loves of his life.  He was a “big brother” to Christopher and a supportive son to his Mom when his Dad died suddenly in 2003. 

Eric’s Christian faith gave him the special gifts he used for his ultimate battle when diagnosed with colon cancer at age 34.  For six years Eric distinguished himself showing great strength and dignity in his quest to manage life in spite of his illness. His mission became teaching others to take personal responsibility for all aspects of one’s life when confronted with challenges including serious illness.  He became an expert in nutrition and fitness and in November 2004, Eric completed a Century (100 mile) ride on his bicycle; meeting a goal he had set for himself.   In April 2006, Eric at age 40 lost the battle of his life leaving his wonderful wife and daughter, his family and many friends with considerable respect and love for him and the remarkable and honorable life he lived.   

Eric was thankful for life and the many opportunities he was given to achieve success through a good education.  He would be very proud to know that a special award will be given in his name to a deserving student athlete. 

The Longfellow Family