Eric Andrew McCloskey, 34, of Oregon, Ohio, passed away unexpectedly on March 9, 2023. Eric was born in Toledo, Ohio on December 9, 1988 to Patrick J. and Lisa M (Jensen) McCloskey. He was a 2007 graduate of Cardinal Stritch High School and earned a Bachelor's Degree in Biology/Chemistry from the University of Toledo. His career included positions as a pharmaceutical laboratory technician with the Cleveland Clinic as well as the University of Chicago.

Growing up Eric was happy, inquisitive, and loving. He had a strong sense of adventure. He would don costumes and you could often find him swashbuckling as Peter Pan thwarting evil-doers as Batman, or scampering around in his Brett Favre jersey which he rarely took off. His imagination was ravenous. Eric would be outside with his bat playing an entire baseball game by himself. Wintertime did not curb his enthusiasm as Eric would drive his dad outside to go sledding or build any one of a wide-variety of snow creations. He loved to draw – and this would hold true throughout his life. Eric was also an avid reader immersing himself in the wizarding world of Harry Potter and graduating to the orcs and hobbits of Tolkien. Eric had a profound love of children which became clear when he welcomed his little sister Elizabeth. Elle recounts how caring Eric was and how wonderful a babysitter. They would build Legos together and create new games like "Kenobi" that they would play in the driveway. They remained close, complimenting each other's personalities throughout their childhood and beyond. Eric became a life-long Notre Dame Fan, which was assured after spending many hours with his Grandpa Gerry, who played basketball for the Fighting Irish.

Eric attended St. Jerome grade school, where he met his life-long friends. He seemed to thrive in school – where new adventures and activities abounded. Eric's love for music and sports were seeded at St. Jerome. Although his father had guitars sitting around the house, Eric chose to study piano, completing 6-years of instruction. Eric and his friends began playing basketball together there as well. Even then it was clear that this group would be something to reckon with.

Eric attended Cardinal Stritch High School, along with these close friends. He was a stellar athlete, excelling in football, basketball and baseball. He achieved All-City and All-State honors in football, and All-District honors in basketball. Eric and his friends were the first class to win the Toledo Area Athletic Conference (TAAC) crown in football and took the school to the playoffs for the first time in years. Their basketball team went as far as the district finals.

But even with the sports accolades, Eric held close his love for music, participating in various musical productions and cabarets. It was during this time he decided to pick up one of those guitars where he discovered his love of songwriting.

As mentioned, Eric's love of playing basketball began in grade school and grew throughout high school and beyond. You could always find Eric and his good friends in the driveway shooting baskets. During March Madness, all the boys would play under the lights with a TV strategically placed outside, and would stop only when the game got to "crunch time". There were countless games of 21 without really keeping score and even inviting Eric's Dad to play when they needed a sub.

Following his graduation from University of Toledo, Eric followed his first career opportunity east to Cleveland, where he discovered an affinity for city life. It was here too he further developed his love of music, performing in a band with his high school friend Marco. After a couple years, Eric moved to Chicago where he expanded his music, friendships, and enjoyed some of his most cherished days.

Eric continued his lasting love of music; performing on guitar and piano, writing a myriad of songs, often collaborating with his dear friends. His songs told stories in brilliant detail of friendship, of loves, and loves lost. They captured the essence of his many daily experiences, and his dreams of things yet to come. Eric considered himself first and foremost an artist, and his amazing body of work proved this.

Eric and life-long friend Michael would play shows all over the city of Chicago as their comedy group "The Knits", always leaving the crowd laughing. His closest friends shared that it was pure joy to work on creating a song with Eric. They would start with absolutely nothing and in no time could barely breathe as they were laughing so hard.

Eric also performed solo in coffee shops and night clubs. He once played a show in front of a crowd of 150 at the legendary Chicago venue Reggie's Music Joint located on South State St. Eric would follow by hosting more than a few "So Far Sound" shows. As his alter ego Baertrum, Eric's music was acknowledged in the Daily Herald as richly layered with the real draw being his intriguing vocals; he has a couple of albums on Spotify and many singles under this stage name.

A critical part of his musical/ artistic adventuring was the weekly planning meetings/dinners he would have with his friend Corey. It was clear that these were a happy and helpful part of his life, holding each other accountable for their goals and visions of the future.

Eric also filmed many music videos with his crazy group of high school friends. His talents were again showcased as he loved planning, directing, performing, and editing those videos with painstaking detail. Many of these remain available on You Tube.

Eric instantly made an impact on the Windy City. He became well known in his communities of Lincoln Park and Lakeview. Eric knew everyone's name - whether it was a waiter in a local restaurant, a door attendant in his apartment building, or just another resident in the neighborhood. Eric absolutely delighted in living in his Chicago neighborhood and walking the streets, seeing the beautiful buildings, trees, shops and of course, the dogs, where he would talk to each owner and pet literally every single dog he walked past.

Eric loved hanging out with his sister Elizabeth and his friends in Chicago. Elle and Eric would frequently schedule "Sibling Sundays" where they would recount the week's experiences and share their love for each other. Eric particularly enjoyed scouting out new restaurants that he would plan to take his mom and dad when they visited. His cohort of friends was inseparable; going to the beach, playing sports, and always adventuring throughout the city. It was not unusual for his group to attend a concert, only to rise early the next day and head down to the lakeshore for pickup basketball followed by football on the beach. The boys would often end the day with drinks at their favorite bar, Sheffield's.

His friends would say that Eric was the most social person they've ever met. He was relentlessly kind hearted and respectful, bringing energy and light to a boring room. While partnering with his best friend and roommate Brenton, Eric also became a crusader in his community for social justice.

For those that knew Eric well, they understood he felt things very deeply. His introspection and empathy could lead to periods of melancholy one day that would turn to bright excitement the next. We would later come to understand that these are hallmarks of bipolar disorder. During the isolation and anxiety of the pandemic, Eric's illness worsened. Over the past 2 years, Eric's friends and family employed all resources at their disposal to help Eric seek treatment for his mental disorder and substance abuse. Despite these continuous efforts, his illness prevented him from seeing the love and caring of those closest to him. He became more withdrawn and distanced from the things that made him the happiest. If you, or someone you love, are experiencing issues with mental health please do not hesitate to seek treatment. Asking for help is not weakness or a sign of something wrong, it is as necessary as any other healthcare practice. While we may never understand what mental anguish Eric experienced we know that his deep faith led him to eternal peace and we pray that those who loved Eric will take his legacy forward through advocacy for mental health awareness.

Eric was passionate, intelligent and insightful. He always dreamed big. He will always be admired for his drive and pursuit of his ideas and ideals. Eric was a phenomenal athlete, scientist, and artist, but he was the best at being a wonderful son, brother, & friend. The number of lives Eric has impacted for the better is countless. Everyone who knew Eric has a story and kind word to say about him. He was immensely loved – and always will be. While many of us may never even try to follow a dream; Eric's life was one of the things dreams are made of. And for that reason, he will live forever.

Left to cherish Eric's memory are his parents, Patrick J. and Lisa M. McCloskey; sister, Elizabeth M. McCloskey and grandmother, Janet Jensen. Eric was preceded in death by his grandparents, Kenneth Jensen, Gerald and Joan McCloskey.

A memorial service will be held at St. Jerome Catholic Church, 300 Warner St. Walbridge, Ohio, on Tuesday, March 21, 2023 at 10:30 am with Fr. Scott Woods officiating. A luncheon will follow in the Parish Community Center. In lieu of flowers, those wishing to make an expression of sympathy in Eric's memory are asked to consider memorial contributions to the McCloskey Family, in care of Patrick McCloskey, to allow them to memorialize and honor Eric's love of music and art at a later date.

To listen to Eric's music, please visit: Baertrum@Spotify.com or The Knits @ Spotify.com