Funeral Details

Erwin's vitality was contagious - a real "people person." May his joy of life be forever an inspiration to everyone whose life he touched and may his memory be a blessing.

Marlene Dodinval

Sorry for your loss. Losing parents is very hard. Thoughts and prayers with you and your family.

Patricia DeNoyer

A memory: Getting dressed for Elaine's shiva I noticed that I was wearing one black sock and one blue sock. I was in a hurry and thought to myself "No one will see my socks - just leave them and go!" But I just couldn't do it, so I took the time to make the switch. Good thing, because at the shiva, Erwin was admiring my boots and made me take them off so he could get a closer look! I have to admit I felt proud that I had received a thumbs-up from Erwin on my smart boot selection. And I was really glad I had matched my socks. 🙂

Pam Schetter

My eulogy for Uncle Sonny . . .

â??If the Shoe Fits . . . â??

Iâ??ve often had a problem with the spelling of Uncle Sonnyâ??s name . . . and I think my problem speaks to the wonder of his character, his personality and, indeed, his entire life:

Is it â??Sonnyâ? as in â??S-O-N-N-Yâ? or â??Sunnyâ? as in â??S-U-N-N-Yâ??

I should know the answer to this . . . I have only known my fatherâ??s brother all of my life.

But when I am about to write down his name in a text or message to his kids, for example, I actually pause for a second: â??Hmm. Is it Sonny -- S-O-N-N-Y or Sunny -- S-U-N-N-Y?â? With a silent chuckle, I am amused that I still have to consider this.

Today -- of all days -- I understand that the two spellings are absolutely interchangeable. S-O-N-N-Y is S-U-N-N-Y.

I know that the world outside of his family -- at Nordstromâ??s, for example -- always addressed Uncle Sonny as â??Erwin.â? But in our family, we always called him â??Sonny.â? And was there ever a person who more fit the name -- as the proverbial little glass slipper fit Cinderellaâ??s foot?

I realize that as my twin sister, Mimi, says these words -- that my reflection on Sonnyâ??s name may follow an oft-stated theme here. After all, who in Sonnyâ??s world did not take note of his sunny disposition?

What struck me, though, most strongly in these past few years was his uniqueness of spirit.

Just an observation about growing older: many people, as they age, seem to grow crotchety-er. Not Sonny. He had a gift for embracing life . . . and for engaging people. In the simple -- and God knows -- often-repeated act of slipping shoes onto the feet of his customers, he brought a bit of joy into their lives by the sheer force of his charm and humor.

Uncle Sonny shared a few wonderful characteristics with his brother Archie -- our father: a passion for clothes, for the way he presented himself to the world; a love of song and lyrics -- of music in general; and a charming sense of humor.

Joel Werth

(2nd half of my eulogy for my uncle)

It would be no surprise to anyone who knew him to learn that he displayed each of these qualities practically to his final breath.

Sonny lived almost a century. He lived through troubled times and troubling times. He defied these times. Just picture him in the middle of the womenâ??s shoe department at Nordstromâ??s -- or as â??Papa Shoesâ? with his grandkids or as -- for all of his nieces and nephews -- an endearing uncle. He brought joy into our lives in a manner all too rare. We humans are social animals. But too few are social in a genuine way: caring, engaging, connecting and uplifting.

He displayed no ego. Instead these words fit the man:

Work ethic.
Family.
Service to the nation.
Humor.
Kindness.
Serenity.
Radiance.

That was Uncle Sonny . . . Uncle â??Sunnyâ?.

Peace to you, Uncle Sonny, forever . . .
Joel Werth

Joel Werth