Eric Friberg Obituary

I was stunned to hear of the loss of Eric. Since I joined Emerald programme at McKinsey Eric started in 2000, he has been my role model. I often remember his warm heart and strong leadership. Eric will live in my soul and guides me where to go whenever I face difficulties and challenges.

Dear Susan...we just learned of Eric's passing today. To say we were saddened does not begin to say how we feel. Our heart is out to you and your loss. Eric was one of the nicest person we have ever met and it is indeed true he will be sorely missed. Al and Lynn Page

Dear Susan,
I just learned - with shock and sadness - of Eric's passing today. I can only second so many of the heartfelt messages left in this record. Eric was uniquely able to make those he worked with feel as if they were the essential contributors and he just a facilitator lucky to have their support. He had an incredibly light leadership touch and was all the more inspiring and effective as a result, as the comments in this journal so clearly attest.
"Best regards" was the classic Eric e-mail sign-off; I guess that must be why I use it to this day. So, in that spirit, best regards.

The William and Mary family has been so blessed to have Eric in our lives.Eric was a great Foundation Board leader for Mason during the most critical moments in its history.That seems to be the fortunate history of William and Mary and our country.

Eric's leadership, vision and warmth will be sorely missed by all. The students and faculty of the Mason Entrepreneurial program thank him for his worldly advise and will miss his wonderful sense of humor.

Dear Susan:
The "unannounced" visit by Eric and you last year to Long Meadow Ranch is a wonderful memory. Laddie and I were so pleased that you felt comfortable seeking us out at the Ranch. Our reminiscing over the nearly thirty years of shared experiences at McKinsey speaks to the enduring nature of the values you both exemplify. We will miss Eric, but never forget.
We offer our deepest sympathy, our prayers, and our support.
Ted & Laddie

Eric Friberg was a true gentleman, in every sense of the word. I always looked forward to seeing and talking with him when I came to the Spoleto Festival USA, of which he was such an integral part. We have all lost a good friend and mentor. Like so many others, I will miss him a great deal. Please know that I will remember Eric in my prayers and Masses. Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him.

Eric is one of the most impressive, positive and considerate leaders I have met in my professional life. I have always admired his detailed attention he gave to us at McKinsey. May he rest in peace and light...

A true friend of the College, a mentor and a great leader... My most sincere condolences.

Mason School, William and Mary

Dear Susan,

Eric as you know was the person who brought be to Brussels and as such changed the geography of my life. He was a great leader and a friend to so many of us. We will miss him dearly. Our thoughts are with you and the family.

Philippe and myself were very sorry when we were told about your loss. It was a very devastating news.
Even having not knowing him a lot We have always appreciate his sense of humour and his smile.
He will be missed. The Tastevins Diner will never be the same

Philippe et Marie Arnaud

This is a crushing loss for all of us who knew and admired this remarkable man.
This world does not possess so many people of brilliance and charm and wit that it can afford to lose even one of them. Eric was all these things and more: a transparently good human being, kind and gracious to all and a blessing to all whose lives he touched.
May God comfort Susan and the family during these days of mourning.

Michael S. Kogan

A role model, a friend, a great leader... We are all writing at length in this guest book, but we are truly at a loss of words. My most sincere condolences.

Dear Susan:

For Rosario and me, it was a great surprise to receive such a sad news, but the hope is that Eric will continue brightening our professional and personal lives with the solid example that he gave to us as a person.

We have very fond and strong memories of our dinner at The Louvre, in our EMERALD graduation back in year 2000 where we had the occasion of meeting you personally.

Your friends in Bogotá, Colombia

Alvaro Triana and Rosario Rueda

It is with great regret and sadness that I learned of the loss of Eric. I had only known him a short time through our work together at The Mason School at The William and Mary. My entire experience with Eric was one of pure joy. He was so dedicated to the cause of helping others it raised the efforts of everyone around him. My life has been blessed by knowing and working with Eric. It is so hard to believe this has actually happened but I can find some comfort in knowing that Eric made such a positive difference in the world in which we live. His contribution to our world will be evident for the ages and he will be in all of our hearts for the rest of our years. The Friberg family will be in my prayers and hopefully the wisdom of Eric will be with us all as we continue his work. Daniel W. Aston

Dear Susan,

It is very sad to me to learn such a terrible news. Eric has been for me a mentor, an example so good that it is impossible to follow, a man of great honesty that it is just making you better, by being with him. He nurtured all of us at the Eurocenter with such a dedication that will always leave a mark in our memories.
I want to express to you Sandra's and my simpathy in this dreadful moment

A great man, great professional, great mentor. The footprint of Eric is all over the world.

I am very sadden by the news of Eric's passing. I got to know Eric when I transferred with McKinsey from Brussels to Atlanta in 2000. Eric embodied the very best of McKinsey's values. I had a lot of respect for him. He shaped my career and I would not be where I am today if not for his support and coaching. I had hoped that our path would cross again. Obviously, time flies and I am sad it did not happen. My deepest thoughts and sympathy are with his wife, Susan and his family.

Dear Susan,
I can’t tell you how much the news of Eric’s passing was devastating on me. I am in Asia with my family currently and Nadine and I were talking about you and Eric no later than last week. This may have been a sign that I was feeling something was happening with him; I was telling her about the trip we did together in Asia some 15 years ago and we recalled our visit to Charleston eight years ago. Because of this current Asia trip and its complexity I could not come and join for the funerals and I am very sorry about it.
Eric changed the lives of many around him and I know I can say that for most of the consultants that came to the EuroCenter.
For me it was a dramatic change in my life to have met Eric and you. It is because of Eric that I rejoined McKinsey to contribute to the EuroCenter building. You and him were the most important pillar of “MyMcKinsey” and I feel terrible today. Eric gave me my self-confidence, my consulting skills, my respect for clients, my dedication to work and service.
The heritage is heavy to receive because now it is up to all of us to carry and give further what we got from Eric, I wish to all of us that we can succeed and that we can deserve his pride of us.
Our prayers are with him and with you.

There are a few moments in life when words cannot express the feeling of loss. Eric's passing made me reflect in silence. As a sponsor of the EMERALD program at McKinsey, Eric has contributed to changing the careers and lives of many people, including mine. Eric's open mind, optimistic attitude and rare combination of brain and soul will forever be a source of inspiration to me. Susan and family, our thoughts remain with you.

Having the opportunity to have met and worked with Eric, is one of the best gifts I have received. Through his guidance, patience, generosity and of course great professionalism he has helped me a lot. I am very honored to have known him.

Dear Susan & Family,

I've only known Eric for a short amount of time through his work with McKinsey but he touched my heart each and every time we worked as faculty at CLW. I will miss his laugh and his smile, as I know you will. My deepest sympathies.

Dear Susan, The EuroCenter in Brussels was my first job and Eric was an inspiration, a joy to work with, an unending source of culture, knowledge and interest in others. We shall cherish our fond and happy memories and the values he communicated to us all.

Dear Susan,
André and I are very very sad to hear that you lost your husband and friend. We pray for you. Eric was an inspiring leader, who listened and cared with great empathy. He made my McK EuroCenter experience unique and influenced greatly my carreer. He will be greatly missed.

Dear Susan,
The Members of the Board of Directors of Belgian American Educational Foundation and I are stunned by the terrible news of the passing of Eric Friberg. As head of McKinsey in Brussels he played a pivotal role in the firm bond established between the Foundation in Brussels and McKinsey. We wish to share in your terrible loss and send you and your family our poignant feelings of heartfelt sympathy.

Eric was the inspiration for the EMERALD program which led to the spread of great intercultural understanding around the globe. Of course international goodwill and understanding was the theme for his life. He "walked the talk." I will never forget his energy, good humor, and dedication to this effort. Sincere best wishes to Susan and your family.

Dear Susan,
You and your family are in my family's thoughts and prayers. Eric will be as fondly remembered as he will be sorely missed by us all at The Mason School.
I count it a great privilege to have known Eric. His work here will stand as a legacy to many generations of students at William and Mary.
May you find peace and comfort in your family and friends.

Eric has been a corner stone to many people's lives and professional careers, including mine. He was a point of reference and an inspiration for many. We will truly miss him and he will always be in our hearts and prayers.

Eric was a friend and mentor for me as I assume the chair of Spoleto. He did everything he could think of to make the transition easier for me and the Festival staff. Although I will miss him terribly, I am grateful for the years that we have been friends and for the many hours that we worked together on behalf of the Spoleto Festival. Martha Rivers Ingram

Dear Susan,

It is with great sadness Hilde and I heard the news of Eric's passing. He was the first person I worked with after joining McKinsey in Brussels many years ago. We will miss his genuine kindness and caring attitude but will always remember his inspiration and great sense of humor.

Dear Susan--Eric was so filled with life and energy that it is difficult to imagine the hole his absence will create in the many people and organizations he touched. From the long gone days of working with Eric at the High Museum to seeing what he contributed to the Charleston community, I have seen nothing but thoughtful regard and careful planning inform his actions. May you take comfort in knowing that his life touched thousands all over the world and made each of those lives better. You have my deepest sympathy.

It was a shock to hear that Erc has passed away all of the sudden. I was one of the first year Emerald program members from Tokyo office of McKinsey. Eric was a great mentor and actually father for all of us. I learned a lot not only from his intelligence but from his warm character, high spirit, and wide range of interests. Eric will live on in my mind forever.

Dear Susan and Family,
Eric was a big part of my early years at McKinsey and I always considered it a treat to be in his company. Having the chance to visit Charleston and enjoy dinner in your beautiful home was one of my favorite work trips! Eric was so generous and kind. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you during this difficult time.

Dear Susan, Robert and I wish you and your family our prayers during this sad time. I'll always remember our nice conversations at various McKinsey Director conferences.

I am so sorry to hear of your loss. Eric's support of the EMERALD programme at McKinsey was hugely influential to my career and which helped me to start the Teach First charity in the UK, which currently employs over 1,000 teachers - another tribute to Eric that he might not have even been aware of.

Dear Susan,

Eric truly was an inspiration to so many at McK, particularly the EMERALD community. He was the uber gentleman and always told a great story! He will be missed.

You take care; Eric, you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.

Barbara Kataisto

We are very sorry to learn of your loss. Eric was a mentor and a friend and we are sure he has had a profound positive impact in many people's lifes, just as he had in ours.
We will keep you in our thoughts and prayers and wish you strength in this difficult moment

Dear Susan, let us feel greater thankfulness for the latest 66 years with Eric than sadness for his early departure. Such brevity must be somehow linked with achieving so much and touching so many in so little time. Yours sincerely, Paulo (Emerald 2000)

Lindsay let us all know. "My sympathy" is an overused phrase, and doesn't convey anything near the compassion and understanding one has at this moment. My father died in the same manner, and the emotional "hole" has never been filled in my life. My prayers are with you and the rest of your family in this most difficult moment.

I am very sorry to here of your loss. The family will be in my thoughts and prayers. At times like this I thank God for giving us memories so that we may have roses in December. We will all have many fond memories of Eric. God bless.