Eric Lauritzen
April 21, 1938 – June 5, 2025
Eric Lauritzen, 87, of Scottsdale, AZ passed away unexpectedly on June 5, 2025 with Marcia Butler, his wife of 24 years, at his side.
Eric was born on April 21, 1938 in Calgary, Alberta to Erik Lauritzen and Frances Rhoda Martin. The Lauritzen family relocated to Vancouver, BC in 1950. Eric graduated from Lord Byng High School in 1957, attended the University of British Columbia and graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce degree in 1961. He went on to earn a Master in Business Administration from the Harvard Business School in 1963. He joined MacMillan Bloedel Limited in Vancouver, BC, and began a life-long career in the pulp and paper industry. Eric worked his way up through various marketing management positions in the company’s sales locations, including New York and California. In 1980, he became vice president, pulp and paper marketing, and was responsible for $1 billion in annual sales of pulp and paper products worldwide. He travelled extensively to Europe and Asia, visiting customers and developing market intelligence. In 1994, Eric led the management team in forming Harmac Pacific Inc (HPI) in an Initial Public Offering. He retired when HPI was acquired in 1998. In 2004, Eric joined the board of directors of Mercer International Inc, a global producer of pulp, wood products, power and chemicals. During Eric’s 13 years on the Mercer board, he served on both the governance and nominating committee as well as the human resources and compensation committee. For the last five years of his service, Eric was lead director. He retired from the Mercer Board in 2017.
Eric loved life. He was a positive force and an optimist, with a quick sense of humor. He was generous and always willing to provide useful guidance. He had many passions, including sports and golf, in particular. He enjoyed travel, skiing, sailing, cooking and music. His happiest times were combining golf with travel. In addition to golf destinations in the US and Canada, Eric and Marcia played in countries all over the world, including Scotland, Ireland, the Caribbean, Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand, Japan, France, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Denmark and South Africa.
While in Vancouver, Eric was a member of Capilano Golf & Country Club. In 1988, he and Marcia joined Semiahmoo Golf and Country Club in Blaine, WA, where they owned a summer residence. They became permanent residents of Washington in 2000. At Semiahmoo, both Eric and Marcia were actively involved for three years in organizing an annual golf tournament, dinner and auction to raise funds and increase awareness on behalf of the ALS Association. From 2005 through 2010, they also belonged to Bellingham Golf Club in Bellingham, WA. In 2012, he and Marcia purchased a winter home in Scottsdale and joined Desert Forest Golf Club in Carefree, AZ. They relocated from WA to AZ in 2019. In 2020, they bought a summer cabin in Pinetop, AZ and joined White Mountain Country Club.
Eric was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Brian. He is survived by his wife Marcia, brother-in law Bill Butler, nephew Andrew Butler, niece Claire Butler, ex-wife Linda Lauritzen, sister-in-law Renate Lauritzen, godchildren Michael Hassan and Kara McCann, and several cousins in Denmark.
He will be missed by his many friends and business colleagues that he has known throughout his lifetime.
Services will be private. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the ALS Association, als.org/donate, Arizona Musicfest, azmusicfest.org/donate, or a favorite charity.
