Eric Zirkel
Sept 15, 1991 - July 21. 2013
Eric was my only child, he was and still is the light of my life. He was kind, compassionate, loving, determined and had an awesome sense of humor. Just his smile alone would light up a room.
He loved his family and friends and always put them first. He would think nothing of waking up at 2 or 3 in the morning to go pick up a friend at a bar who drank too much and bring him home then go with him to get his car the next day. He would stop his car and pull over on the highway to help any animal in need. One time he tried to help a cat who was just hit by a car. He always gave to the homeless and poor. On our last vacation together, he was walking in front of me on the boardwalk and went right over to a homeless older man in a wheelchair. He came back to me and said -“Ma, he’s a veteran!! I had to talk to him and give him money.”
He loved his cousin Kevin like a brother. Eric experimented with weed, alcohol and some pills in high school, which I thought were just teenage things.
On April 9, 2012, Eric had a horrific car accident. We didn’t think he was going to make it. He went through the back window of his car and sliced his scalp almost completely off; he broke both bones in his left leg; bruised his kidneys and cut his forehead. The whole time he was in the hospital he was on the most powerful pain killers on the market at the time. He came home 18 days later with a bottle full of pain killers, but by this time he was already addicted. After he couldn’t get the pain killers by prescription he turned to the streets and then to heroin. He never used a needle; he snorted the powder. He went to rehab and was doing great then went out with an old friend and never came home. He passed away 7/21/2013 from an accidental overdose.
I miss hearing my son’s laugh the most. I miss our talks, walks, drives and vacations.
Submitted by Cathleen Hubner, Mother
You contribution will assist The Beading Hearts Overdose Loss Support Group to continue to serve those effected by substance use disorder.
Donations ensure The Beading Hearts Overdose Loss Support Group can continue to help others affected by substance use and their families