Eric H Metzler

It is with heart felt sadness that the Metzler family announces the death of Eric H. Metzler, 78, of Alamogordo, NM.  Eric passed away December 3, 2023.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Lois M. (Bastian) Metzler, Clarence H. Metzler; and son, Meredith Gene Metzler.  Eric is survived by wife Patricia Ann of 56 years; daughter-in-law, Kelly M. (Riley) Metzler and grandsons, Riley Quinn Metzler and Kieran Jackson Metzler of Gaithersburg, MD. Eric is also survived by siblings, Alyson L. (Jim) Baker, of Dent MN; Todd E. (Regina) Metzler, of Hart, MI; Mitzi F. Metzler, of Iron Mountian, MI; and sisters-in-law, Margaret R. Peggy Trescott, of Lansing MI, Vickie Z.(Gregory) of Pence Wheeling, IL; Robin F. (Edward) Messing, of Sandusky MI; and numerous other family members, nieces and nephews.

Eric was born and reared in Michigan.  In his words, he started studying insects when he was “knee high to a grasshopper” and he never stopped this study.  Eric served as an officer and was honorably discharged from the United States Coast Guard.  He received a BS in Park and Recreation with Minor in Entomology from Michigan State University. 

Eric enjoyed his career with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ and retired from the position of Acting Chief of the Division of Watercraft.  When Eric retired he was named Ambassador of Natural Resources by Governor George Voinovich.  After Retirement, Eric intensified his study of moths and butterflies and in 2005 he was inducted into the Natural Resources Hall of Fame for his efforts promoting insects as a natural resource.  Eric was a researcher, prolific writer of many scientific papers, books, naming moths new to science.  Eric also was a bibliophile, and natural history book collector.  He continued the Long Term Study of the Moths of White Sands and Carlsbad National Parks up to his death.  Eric also was an associate at the Natural History Musuem at the Smithsonian in Washington, DC.

Eric was a member of numerous Lepidopterist Societies, co-founded the Ohio Lepidopterists where he served as president and was news editor for 20 years.  He also served as Secretary, President and Director of the Wedge Entomological Research Foundation, and served as President of the Lepidopterist Society.

Eric loved life.  His joy was his son and his two grandsons. Eric also had a rare sense of humor. He always practiced “paying it forward” by always finding teachable moments, being an educator, speaker, sharing all research, teaching and mentoring students of all ages.

Eric requested that the following short paragraph attributed to teachings from the Bible be recited by each person feeling the loss of Eric’s passing to the next stage of his life.

“There is No Death”

I am standing on the seashore.  A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze and starts for the blue ocean.  She is an object of beauty and strength, and I stand and watch her until at length she is a speck of white cloud just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other.  Then someone at my side says “There! She’s gone!” Gone Where? Gone from my sight.  That is all.  She is just as large in mast and hull and spar as she was when she left my side and she is just as able to hear her load of living weight to her destined harbor.”
“The diminished size is in me, not in her. And just at the moment when someone at my side says “There! She’s gone!” there are other eyes watching her coming and other voices ready to take up the glad shout.

“There She Comes!!”

“And that is dying.”

Eric, as a 2-time survivor of cancer, requested in lieu of flowers donations be made to the cancer society.

The Metzler family has entrusted their loved one to the care of PCS Direct Cremation Service for direct cremation.

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