Erhard Alfred Naujoks, 86, passed away on 19 January 2025 after a mercifully brief battle with cancer.

Erhard was born on 28 December 1938, to Hildegard and Alfred Naujoks in Essen, Germany. In 1964, he made the life-changing decision to come to the United States to join his fiancée, Martha von der Gathen, who had emigrated the previous year. They were married on 21 March 1964 and shortly thereafter settled in Saugerties, NY. Erhard committed wholeheartedly to learning the culture and values of his adopted land, and one of his proudest moments was the day he became a naturalized US citizen. Another came in October 1978, when he and his wife welcomed their only child, Natasha.

Erhard was an incredible role model for his daughter, instilling in her a fierce work ethic and meticulous attention to detail. From a very young age, he empowered her to do all the things that little girls weren't supposed to do, inspiring her with courage to take risks and confidence in her own capabilities. He raised her to believe there was nothing she couldn't do, and his unconditional love proved to be a beacon she could always rely on to guide her through any crisis. His extraordinary kindness and generosity of spirit is testified by the many of his daughter's friends who considered him a second father. 

Erhard was also very highly regarded by his professional colleagues. A long-time employee of F.L. Russell Corporation, he quickly mastered the bookbinding craft and rose through the ranks as a manager. Always the first to arrive and the last to leave, he consistently demonstrated a selfless commitment to excellence and inexhaustible dedication to his job. He earned the trust and goodwill of his employees by treating everyone with respect and fairness, tempering his high expectations with a healthy sense of humor and camaraderie. 

When he wasn't working, he was indulging in his love of all things working with his hands. Returning home after a long day at his job, he spent hours every evening tinkering with his tools, rarely emerging from his workshop before 11 pm when he would finally sit down long enough to eat dinner. A consummate engineer, he loved nothing more than taking things apart if only to figure out how they worked. He was especially gifted at woodworking, and artfully crafted many a piece of furniture for our family homes. 

Perhaps his entire character can best be summed up in a single anecdote. In his retirement, he took up a new hobby by feeding the squirrels that came to his doorstep. He always kept a 5 pound bag of peanuts by his front door, and made sure they all got their fair share. He had a name for each one, and was even able to coax a few of them into taking the peanut right from his hand. That's how he will be remembered by those who knew and loved him most, and he would have wanted it that way.

Erhard is survived by his wife Ellie, his daughter Natasha, and his sister Wilma.

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