Louise Erickson Ulbrich of Warren, Maine died peacefully at home on July 21 surrounded by her family and grandchildren. Born in Swampscott MA on July 15, 1940 Louise was raised in the company of her entire paternal family on the Bahamian Island of Inagua, where her father and his two brothers re-established and operated a business manufacturing salt by process of solar evaporation. Her island upbringing fostered a deep and life-long connection to her immediate and extended family of 21.
Following her graduation from Radcliffe College in 1962, Louise taught fourth grade at Nashoba Brooks Country Day School in Concord MA, until her marriage to Konrad Ulbrich in 1968. The farming component of Louise’s secondary education at Putney School in Vermont, paired with her husband’s interest in sheep-farming and boats, led to their decision to move to a farm in mid-coast Maine in 1977. On this farm they raised their two daughters, as well as sheep, cows, blueberries and hay. In addition, Louise trained Border Collie sheep dogs, substitute taught, and served on the local school board. She enjoyed music, and was devoted to a local singing group.
Louise had a life-long love of books, letters, ideas, and conversation, which she cultivated from her farm-house kitchen. She often wrote letters to the editor and was an avid reader in a broad spectrum. Authors that she especially connected with were Shakespeare, Jane Austen, Henry David Thoreau, and Emily Dickinson. She cultivated correspondence and friendships like a garden, something she worked quite hard at. Like a fisherman hauling in his net, it was a great joy for her to gather the mail at the Post Office and receive a good letter. Her rich stream of correspondence even included several people she had never met. Although she did not travel much in later years, books and ideas took her everywhere in great depth. She had a knack for conversation and could cut to the heart of something interesting with anyone she met, often following up with an article or a book that related to the discussion.
Louise was a loving mother and took great joy in children, especially her three grandchildren. Despite being ravaged by cancer in the last 6 months of her life, Louise departed to her next journey on own terms, inspiring many in her ability to maintain gratitude, appreciation, and joy up until the end. She is survived by her siblings, Peter Erickson (Seattle WA) and Lee Ingram (Bellingham WA), her daughters, Cecile Tucker (Weston MA) and Wilhelmina Ulbrich (Warren ME) and three grandchildren: Amelia Tucker, Frances Tucker and Robert Anderson.
There will be a memorial celebration in honor of Louise at the farm in September. In lieu of flowers please send donations to either the Maine Farmland Trust or the Warren Public Library to P.O. Box 152 Warren, ME 04864.