From the closet to the courts

Joe Erickson

The original owner of this robe, Joe Erickson, was born in Iceland in 1928 but grew up in Winnipeg, Manitoba. In 1940 he moved to Vancouver with his family and graduated from UBC with a degree in law sometime in the early 1950s.

Starting his career in Chilliwack, Joe and his law partner, Donald Pattern, formed “Erickson and Pattern” in 1963 and practiced law together for 17 years. A couple of decades later, Joe made the decision to relocate and started his own law practice in 100 Mile House. Outside of the practice he raised and trained standard racehorses with his wife, Pat.

Joe continued to practice law for several years until he suffered a stroke on his way to work. Shortly after, Joe closed his practice, and retired. He passed away on September 17, 2018.

This robe made its way to us through a friend of the family who informed Pat that she had a friend whose granddaughter was attending law school at UVic.

That young lawyer is now a solicitor and to honour Pat’s wish of ‘hoping the robe can see another day in court,’ has donated it to the Robe Bank.

The Robe’s Journey Continues…