Eric J. Hallberg, 54, of Federal Way, Washington

Eric was born Sept. 19, 1962, in Burien, Wash., and he died suddenly on Feb. 27, 2017, at his home in Federal Way, Wash.

Eric was a father, husband, son, brother, and uncle, and loved by many people.

Eric is survived by his wife, Judy; daughter, Olivia; mother, Carol W. Suda; stepfather, Robert Suda; father, Robert J. Hallberg; and stepmother, Diane Southworth. He leaves behind his brother, Alan, and sister-in-law, Svetlana; his aunt, Louise and Joe Deren and aunt Elisabeth (Betty) Ledig; sisters and brothers-inlaw, Joanna and Tim Neuberger, Susan and Ron Fox, and Kathy Robinson, Rich Rowley; and many nieces and nephews.

Eric graduated from John A. Coleman High School in Kingston, N.Y., in 1981, and Ulster County Community College in 1983, and he received a BA from North Carolina State University in 1985. He majored in Criminal Justice, but his lifelong work was in helping the physically and mentally disadvantaged. After graduating from NCSU, Eric worked for Wake Enterprises in Raleigh, N.C. Wake Enterprises Inc. is a private, nonprofit organization whose mission is to assist people with disabilities to achieve their maximum level of independence in the workforce, as well as an optimal level of function in their everyday lives. He worked as a counselor at first and became a manager of their site in Zebulon, N.C. He moved back to Washington in 2005, and was employed by AtWork! with offices in Bellevue and Issaquah, Wash. AtWork! is a highly supportive and innovative conduit between people with disabilities and mainstream employers in the community. Helping disadvantaged people, those with disabilities, mentally and/ or physically, was Eric’s passion. He made it his life’s work to help people with disabilities achieve their true potential. And he achieved this goal with many of his clients. Eric Hallberg was a leader with vision, and he accomplished his mission to help those who didn’t have a voice, not only have a voice and be heard, but also to be productive with their own passions. Due to public sector cutbacks to nonprofit companies, in 2012, Eric left AtWork! and received training as a Scopist and began working collaboratively with his wife, Judy, on transcribing and editing depositions and excelled very quickly. Eric loved his family deeply. He was a loyal and dedicated man, filled with compassion and patience. He always worked hard at what he was doing. When he was able to help a disabled person find outside employment and work on their own, he always felt successful. Eric loved the outdoors. He and Olivia spent many hours at parks and by Puget Sound. He was a devoted father to Olivia. Eric will be interred at the Mountain View Cemetery in Auburn, Wash. A private Celebration of his Life will be held at a later date.

Donations in memory of Eric can be made at http://www.atworkwa.org/involved/.