GREENVILLE, S.C. (July 29, 2026) — The Blood Connection (TBC) mourns the passing of its former Chief Executive Officer, Gene A. Erickson, who died at home on July 25, 2026 with his daughter Paula by his side. Erickson will be remembered by colleagues across the country for his unwavering support of community, transformation leadership and commitment to saving lives locally.
For more than five decades, Erickson devoted his life to the belief that a community should care for its own. In 1978, Erickson left his role as Executive Director of United Blood Services in Chicago, Illinois to lead Greenville Blood Assurance Plan in Greenville, South Carolina. Erickson came to Greenville with a charge to institute and grow a regional, community blood center, known today as The Blood Connection. READ MORE