While we know Eric Sacks as a retired principal and as the hard working president of our retired educator association, he grew up as the son of a sailor. While his father was stationed on the Naval Aircraft Carrier, the USS Coral Sea, Eric’s mother went back home to be with family in New Orleans when Eric was born. Through his formative years, Eric and four siblings lived in California, Washington State, Taiwan, Virginia Beach, Texas, Florida, Rhode Island and finally Louisiana.
Some of his fondest memories involve playing in the snow in a small town in Rhode Island and his first real job selling toys in a toy store in Pensacola, Florida. Of course, Eric would work in a toy store!
In 1981, Eric married his sweetheart Rose Marie Coburn from New Orleans. The next year he began his career as an educator teaching special education at Miller Wall Elementary in Marrero. In 1985, Eric moved across Jefferson Parish to Ella Dolhonde Elementary in Metairie.
In 1992, St. Tammany was lucky to land Eric as a 5th grade teacher at Clearwood Junior High where he remained until he became an assistant principal at Carolyn Park Middle School in 1999. Finally, Eric moved to Whispering Forest Elementary as its principal in 2005 where he remained until his retirement in 2017. All who entered Whispering Forest during his years as head administrator remember a well-run, happy campus with a smiling Mr. Sacks welcoming all who visited!
It does not take long for anyone speaking to Eric to realize that while his career is in education, his heart is his family! He and Rose have raised three beautiful children. The oldest is Jennifer who lives in Metairie and is the Director of Marketing at the WWII Museum. Next is Eric Jr who works at the Slidell Pupil Appraisal Office for the St. Tammany Parish School System. And the youngest is Matthew who is an engineering student from LSU and UNO.
And while Eric is proud to be a dad, he is ecstatic to be a grandfather! His daughter Jennifer has blessed Eric and Rose with 3-year-old twin grandsons, Jackson and Ben, and a beautiful two month-old granddaughter named Anna.
Now that Eric has retired, he makes time to go to the gym every day and enjoys watching the YouTube adventures of catamaran sailing shows. He must have some of his father’s sailing blood in his veins. And his bucket list trip is to explore Italy with his wife Rose. Until they make that big trip, they enjoy eating out at James Restaurant in Lacombe or at Phil’s Marina Café in Slidell.
Eric’s artistic talents include drawing and singing. As a Fellows Director with the School Leadership Center of New Orleans, Eric recently entertained the group with his Karaoke singing. Perhaps we can get a sample of that one day!
When recalling his favorite memory of his time as an educator in St. Tammany Parish, Eric said it was each and every FIRST DAY of school! He remembers the happy smiles of the children, parents and teachers! No one was sad about anything and there was hope in the air.
Now Eric is busy making new memories with Jackson, Ben and Anna. When asked if there was anything else he would like to share, Eric said he loved the sound of being called Grand Dad!
