Eric Joseph Daniel Minton
1944 – 2016
Eric Minton, born on July 21, 1944 in Philadelphia, PA, passed away on June 27, 2016 in Las Vegas, NV. He was the son of Frederick Roblin Minton and Ethel Dolores Howe.
He is survived by his daughter, Christine Minton Ibarra and his Granddaughter, Evangeline Ibarra of La, Habra, CA, his sister, Bonnie Minton Kryszak and her husband Wayne of Bowie, MD, and his former wife, Linda Marie Foreman Minton, also of La Habra, CA.
Eric graduated from Midwood High School in Brooklyn, NY in 1961, where, as President of the Audio-Visual Club, he began his life-long love of the theatre. He went on to work in several Little Theatre Groups, including The Little Theatre Group of Manchester, CT. Determined to work at Disneyland in California, he left the east coast in 1964 and did just that.
After his marriage in 1967, he and his wife moved to Hawaii where he joined I.A.T.S.E, Hawaii’s Technicians for Film, Television, Stage and Projection, Local Union 665 as a stagehand/spotlighter in a career that lasted over 35 years. He worked in many major performance venues, including the Waikiki Shell. His work also included television shows filmed in Honolulu, such as The Brian Keith Show and Magnum P.I. with Tom Selleck. His work brought him in contact with many celebrities, a favorite being Red Skelton, whom he greatly admired.
In 1977 Eric toured across the U.S., as a spotlighter, with the Ice Capades, starring Dorothy Hamill. He travelled with his four year old daughter, Chris, who had the attention of all the skaters.
His interests included model railroading and train travel. Eric was a member the Amtrak Unlimited Forum and the On-Track-On-Line Forum where he formed many friendships. Known as “GG-1”, after the Pennsylvania Railroad electric locomotive that was his favorite, he included his much loved daughter and granddaughter on many of these train trips. He was also an avid roller coaster fan.
In 2007 Eric moved to Las Vegas, NV. In Las Vegas he participated in the Annual Santa Claus Train Event. He helped produce his community newsletter and was president of Palm Grove Seniors Helping Seniors. He was an excellent photographer and used this talent to create a catalog of stagehand rental equipment for the Las Vegas area.
His heart and soul, however, remained in Hawaii. Many of his friends said that Eric had the heart and soul of a native Hawaiian: laid back, friendly, peaceful in nature. His big smile is what his family and friends remember most. He touched many lives and will be missed greatly.
As Eric would say to all who were in his life, “Mahalo and Aloha”
Services will be private.
Memorial donations may be made in Eric’s name to: Palm Grove Seniors Helping Seniors, Attn: Donave Stanley, Secretary/Treasurer 1624 Palm St, Lot 179 Las Vegas, NV 89104 or to The Red Skelton Museum of American Comedy, Attn: Anne Pratt 20 W Red Skelton Blvd. Vincennes, IN 47591 812-888-4184.
