Arthur Erhardt

Arthur Erhardt: Born January 12, 1929, he spent his life as a dedicated friend, father, and mentor. Arthur recently passed after battling cancer at his home on Goat Island in Newport, Rhode Island. Arthur was raised in the Danbury, Connecticut area where he went to school and worked. He was proud of his service in the Navy where he was stationed in Newport, Rhode Island in the 1950's.Arthur owned R. F. Erhardt Sons, a family mechanical contracting business in Danbury until 1983. He moved to North Kingstown, RI, and finally settled in Newport, Rhode Island. In 1989 Arthur started a new mechanical contracting company, Island Mechanical Consultants, followed by a geotechnical consulting/distribution firm called Grid Technologies, Inc. where he worked until his dying day. He was a member of the VFW, Chambers of Commerce in Danbury, Connecticut and Newport, Rhode Island, the Rotary Club, the Mechanical Contractors Assoc., Soil Conservation Society, Stadium Managers Assoc., Golf Course Superintendant Assoc., Airport Manager's Assoc. and many other professional organizations.Mr. Erhardt was a devoted patriot and Navy veteran who was very involved in his community. He was an innovator in the Mechanical Contracting and Geotechnical Industries. He was instrumental in starting a Geotechnical Engineering Program at the University of Rhode Island. Additionally, he donated his time and experience to the Agronomy and Turf Farms at URI. He spent countless hours educating the civil and geotechnical engineering community with regard to the benefits of using Geosynthetics for shoreline protection, storm water runoff, and soil stabilization. Arthur was always regarded as being twenty years ahead of his time with his knowledge and expertise.Arthur was a dedicated and extremely proud father and grandfather. He was formally married to Ethel Mae Erhardt of Danbury. He leaves behind two sons; Mark S. Erhardt of Sherman, CT and Stuart C. Erhardt of West Newbury, MA. Arthur had five grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his father Raymond F. Erhardt mother Ruth Bennett Erhardt, sister Viola Erhardt Richardson, brothers Raymond F. Erhardt, Jr., and Louis Erhardt.If you would like to make a donation on Arthur's behalf, please do so to:Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center, http://www.mlkccenter.org/, 20 Dr. Marcus F. Wheatland Blvd. Newport, RI 02840 Service OCT 12. 09:00 AM Rhode Island Veterans Memorial Cemetery 301 South County Trail Exeter, RI, US, 02822