WESTFIELD – Eric R. Roy (1987 – 2022) passed away peacefully at home on his 35th birthday, Wednesday, October 26, 2022, surrounded by his loving family. Eric was born October 26, 1987, to Robert Roy and Diane (Douillard) Roy, both of Westfield.
From a young age, Eric was an electric soul, a wild child. He was wise beyond his years, and his intense love for life and music made him the life of the party, the one everyone wanted to be around. Eric was a jokester and a trickster, with a huge heart and amazing raspy voice, always ready to make you smile or laugh. Throughout his childhood, Eric learned to play many instruments, and became a well-rounded musician, self-taught, like his father in many ways. Eric loved to sing, play the guitar, keyboard, saxophone and of course, the drums. He graduated from Westfield High School in 2006, and had many jobs, always in Westfield, while also playing in many bands. Eric had more friends than one can imagine and touched so many people in his life with his fun attitude and kind heart. He was part of the Western Mass Hardcore scene and played drums and guitar in a few bands such as Give Em Hell and Apes of Wrath. In 2010, Eric and his father Bob started the local blues band Blue Devil Bluez, in which Eric was the drummer and played many a night out at Theodores, Southwick Inn, Louie B’s and the like. No one will ever forget his rendition of “I Drink Alone,” and it was always a crowd favorite. He remained the drummer in that band until 2020 when his battle with ALS began, and the band will continue to live on in his memory, with his father front and center.
Eric was a Westfield municipal building custodian for almost 10 years, working in the Westfield School system. There, he made many life-long friendships and was loved dearly by all of the staff, children and teachers, especially at Southampton Road School. Eric and his fiancé Elena purchased their home together in Westfield in 2018. This is where their shared life together was to begin, adopting their beloved kitty Ollie and their amazing dog Hanzo. In his free time, Eric loved to lift at the gym, making friends and helping others with their fitness routine wherever he went. He was a true artist and could often be found on his porch late into the night sculpting, drawing, or composing music on his phone. Eric and Elena enjoyed trips to Lake George together and taking Hanzo out to new places with their family. He loved to kayak with his sister Jamie, and they would push each other through grueling cardio workouts together. Eric was the kind of person you could talk to about anything and was counted on by many as a source of love and support, just like his mother. He was so down-to-earth and wildly intelligent. He is the bravest warrior, having battled the most awful disease that is ALS, but he did it with the grace and dignity that others can only dream of. He will be missed immensely by so many who love him, but he is now free of the body that failed him and caused so much suffering, looking down on us all and grinning that devilish grin.
Eric is predeceased by his mother Diane T. (Douillard) Roy, and her parents Joan and Jack Douillard, and his grandfather Edward Roy.
He is survived by his fiancé Elena Perez and her parents Kathy (Bedard) Perez and Eulogio Perez Jr.; his father Robert Roy; his sister Jamie (Roy) Potvin and brother in-law Corey Potvin; his grandmother Rose Roy, and many aunts, uncles and cousins.
Family, friends and others whose lives Eric has touched are invited to the Firtion Adams Funeral Service located at 76 Broad Street, Westfield, MA (413-562-6244), on Thursday, November 3, 2022, to be received by the family from 4:00 – 8:00 pm. A celebration of life ceremony will be held at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Church, 127 Holyoke Rd., Westfield, MA on Friday, November 4, 2022, at 11:00am, open to all who wish to honor his life. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Healy Center for ALS located at Massachusetts General Hospital giving.massgeneral.org, or to the I Am ALS Foundation iamals.org. www.firtionadams.com
