" Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing,
there is a field. I'll meet you there.
When the soul lies down in that grass,
the world is too full to even talk about.
Ideas, language, even the phrase each other
doesn't make any sense."
-Rumi-
Eric Edwin Diener spent most of his life in
the Chapel Hill/Carrboro NC area. He graduated from Chapel High School in
1987 and attended Appalachian State in Boone, NC. Eric loved the mountains and
spent time in Boone and Brevard before returning to the Chapel Hill Carrboro area.
After settling in Carrboro Eric worked at the Emerson Waldorf School as the
business manager and impacted many children, parents, and teachers while there.
From 2001 until 2004 Eric served as the construction manager at Orange
Community Housing and Land Trust. He managed the completion of the Legion Road
Townhomes in 2001 and managed the entire development and construction of the
Rosemary Place Townhomes in Meadowmont in 2002-03. Eric was intelligent,
curious, and thoughtful about his work. He strove to improve the homes
that were built to better serve homebuyers and he worked hard to ensure that
the homes were well built and affordable. After leaving Chapel Hill
Carrboro Eric spent a year in Croatia before marrying his wife Laura Dominkovic
and moving back to the mountains to settle in Asheville, NC. For the past four
years Eric was a green home builder in Asheville and started his own business
there, Solstice Building Company, two years ago. He was a wonderful,
loving son, brother, husband, dog lover and friend to many and he left a
positive and valuable impact on our world. All who were touched by him
were honored and will strive to make sure his vision and service continues to
live on in the community.
Memorials gifts may be donated to Save the Children at
www.savethechildren.org. To donate to a specific country, call
1-800-728-3848. Eric was dedicated to supporting countries in critical
need, such as Zimbabwe, the Congo, the Gaza strip, Pakistan and
Afghanistan.
Tributes from friends and family:
"You entered my life and evoked in me an eruption of emotions I never felt before."
"You surrounded me with unconditional love and security in this life we lived together."
"You taught me the patience and understanding necessary to make our marriage work."
"You were called away from me to another place far too early, but you left an everlasting imprint on my heart and my being."
"Rest in peace, my love! "
Laura Dominkovic
“He was a wonderful, loving son, husband, dog lover and friend to many and he left a positive and valuable impact on our world.”
Pam and Tom Diener
“In many ways he was kinda like a big brother to me. He was a few years older than me, and the way life would have it seemed like he would experience something first in life and then end up sharing those experiences with me. And I was definitely always for the better because of it.”
Mick Daniel
“Eric put himself at service to people. That took many forms, such as working to support a Waldorf School, mentoring a teenage boy in trouble, being engaged with so many community projects, living and farming in Croatia, becoming an exceptional builder, and being kind to his friends.”
Jeff Dotson
“Most importantly, Eric was always there for his friends. From a barn raising to a briss, Eric always remembered the importance of connection and community.”
Steve Bradley
“Our homeowners, staff and board, appreciated Eric’s diligence. The Rosemary Place Townhomes stand as testimony to his skill and commitment to provide high-quality homes.”
Robert Dowling-Orange Community Housing Land and Trust
“Everything just fell in to place but I think that's mostly in part to Eric. I immediately felt so comfortable with him & trusted him thoroughly.”
Client of Eric’s building company.
“I appreciated his thoroughness, his hard work and his sense of idealism.”
Emerson Waldorf School
“Eric taught me about forgiveness, openness, community, and love. I am grateful for these gifts.”
Michelle Johnson
UBUNTU Eric.
I am because you are. We are a better community because you were part of our community.
