Espen Aamodt

Espen Aamodt, 30, a resident of Norristown, Pa., and formerly of Erie, died on Monday morning, July 21, 2008 in Norristown. Nina lost her big brother and Harald and Liv lost their sweet little boy who grew up in the Navy, but never lost sight of his childhood ideals of justice and helping those weaker than himself. He was brilliant intellectually, but chose a real life education over academia---for now, he thought. He intended to go back to university, study history, political science or maybe architecture.

Petty Officer First Class Espen Aamodt left the Navy in 2006 as a nuclear reactor operator and trainer on board the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, then worked for Arcelor Mittal Steel in Conshohocken, Pa. as an electronics technician. He was born in Columbus, Ind. on April 1, 1978, lived with his parents in Greece, then back in Bloomington, Ind., and also Frankfurt, Germany before moving to Erie when he was 11. He graduated from McDowell High School in 1996. Espen was an excellent creative writer, he spoke German and Norwegian, loved math, music, movies, and literature--C.S. Lewis was a childhood favorite--and he loved us. His vast collective knowledge allowed him to teach those around him with ease and generosity--his was a giving spirit that may have given too much to survive.

He leaves behind his parents, Harald and Liv Aamodt of Erie; his sister, Nina Aamodt, and her friend, Justin Davis, both of Santa Monica, Calif.; uncles, aunts, and cousins in Norway, England, Scotland, Cyprus, and Canada; and many, many friends. His Navy friends, like him smart and dedicated, but also independent thinkers, have joined us in our sorrow.

Friends may call at the Russell C. Schmidt & Son Funeral Home, 5000 Wattsburg Rd., Erie, corner of E. Gore Rd. and Pine Ave., Saturday 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., and are invited to services there that evening (Saturday) at 7:30 p.m. officiated by Rev. Terry Wise. Private interment will take place at the family's convenience. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Big Brothers at Family Services of N.W. Pennsylvania, 5100 Peach St., Erie, 16509.

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