February 26, 2022
Erich Siperko and his family landed in Halifax Harbour on Easter Sunday in 1948. It was the beginning of a new life in the new country of Canada. They had endured the voyage from a concentration-relocation refugee camp in Denmark. With the Russian army advancing, they survived a harrowing exodus from their family home in Sigmuntova, Lithuania.
Erich, a little German speaking boy found Canadian teachers to be his best friends and within two years he was speaking English without a trace of an accent. In fact, he eventually became a tenured professor at the University of Alberta, School of Art & Design.
His legendary Friday afternoon "open house" discussion with student and professors began a popular tradition.
Erich married Gloria Burima, who achieved a doctorate in psychology. Eventually moving to California, near P.U.C. College, they founded a residential treatment centre (Grandview Children's Ranch) receiving positive recognition from state of California licensing agencies. Gloria closed the facility in 1991 and moved her family back to Canada.
Committed to a life-long love of invention and innovation, Erich achieved a U.S. patent for a new mechanical principle. He also designed and built electrostatic speakers and an electronic piano.
He and his best friend, Karen Hibbard, attended meetings of the Northern California Inventors Association. After many years in California , they moved to Hope and enjoyed the activities of the Garden Club and the book club, and SDA Hope Camp Meetings. They are both members of the Hope Seventh Day Adventist Church.
Erich's children are Keesa & Victor Dailyde of Vancouver, Kelee & Thomas Laetch of Germany and Kai Siperko of Vancouver.
Grandchildren are Helena Dailyde and Daniel Laetch.