Throughout the 2020-2021 program year, we are profiling various lay leaders in our congregation. This week, we feature Eric Pierce, our Moderator. Eric joined UU Wellesley Hills in January of 1992.
Eric and his wife Jackie have lived in Wellesley for more than 30 years. They have two adult sons. Michael, 33, lives with his wife Jordan in the Berkshires where he works as an ER doctor. David, 29, lives in New Hampshire and is studying to become a Physician’s Assistant.
In addition to serving as Moderator, Eric is also chair of the Phased Reopening Advisory Group. Recently, Eric met with Board of Trustees Chair Kathy Coolidge to answer a few questions about himself.
Q. Where did you grow up and go to school?
A. I was born in New Haven, CT, then moved to Princeton, NJ, and spent the rest of my childhood in Gambier, OH (home of Kenyon College). I graduated from Hobart and William Smith College in Geneva, NY, and then received my Ph.D. in Physiology from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Then, I received my M.D. from the University of Cincinnati Medical School and completed my Anesthesiology residency and Cardiac fellowship at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
Q. What kind of work do you do?
A. I’m a cardiovascular anesthesiologist and clinical researcher. I’ve worked at Mass General Hospital for the last 16 years. I’m now semi-retired working one day a week in the pre-op clinic and finishing up several research grants.
Q. What is your religious background? What brought you to UU Wellesley Hills? How long have you been a member?
A. My father was an Episcopal priest, as were my grandfather, great-grandfather and several uncles so you could say religion was my family's business. My dad was also a seminary professor so I grew up in an academic and relatively open-minded environment. In my teen years, I began to question a lot of what I’d been taught about Christianity, as “preacher’s kids” often do, and drifted away from organized religion. Because I came from an Episcopalian background and Jackie came from a Reformed Jewish background we agreed to look for a religious home for our children and chose Unitarian
Universalism. Happily both of our family’s embraced our decision – my dad actually married us in a Unitarian Fellowship.
Jackie and I have been members since we moved to Wellesley 30 years ago. Before Wellesley, we attended the First Parish in Lexington for 6 years.
Q. What parts of congregational life are most meaningful to you?
A. I enjoy the choir although I’ve taken a leave of absence during the pandemic. I hope to get back to the choir once we’re together again. Social action is also very important to me. I cook for Bristol Lodge, volunteer for Family Promise and attend the Black Lives Matter vigils. I really enjoy the camaraderie of the other men in the congregation including the men’s breakfast and retreats. I also really like to work with my hands and help out with buildings and grounds.
Q. You are both the Moderator and the chair of the Phased Reopening Advisory Group — how has that been for you?
A. I was elected Moderator last year, so the upcoming Annual Meeting will be my first time to serve in this role. I’ll have to review Robert’s Rules of Order and practice swinging a gavel to get ready! Rev. Kelly asked me to lead the Phased Reopening Advisory Group (PRAG) in order to have a small, independent group to provide some medical input, and to keep an eye on the CDC guidelines and other recommendations about reopening. We meet periodically and will meet again in April.
Q. How are you managing quarantining?
A. Now that I have more time, I hope to do more skiing, sailing and spend more time on the water in general. I recently earned a US Coast Guard Master’s (Captain’s) license for vessels up to 100 tons (that’s roughly a 200 passenger ferry). Last year I did an “apprenticeship” on a Boston ferry which carries 80 passengers but decided to stop because of the Covid risk. I hope to get back to it this summer. I’ve also been invited to crew as Medical Officer for the next two years on sailboat races to Bermuda although it’s not clear if the one this summer will actually be able to take place.
Q. What’s most important to you at this point in your life?
A. Jackie and I are looking forward to spending more time together and with the kids. Our family is growing now that Mike’s married and David has a long-term girlfriend. Mike is buying a house in the Berkshires.
We are very glad to have Eric Pierce serving as one of our supremely capable lay leaders here at UU Wellesley Hills! Be sure to come to Fellowship Hour this Sun. Mar. 21st at 11:30 a.m. to meet Eric, who will give a brief presentation about his work as both Moderator and Chair of the PRAG.
Tags: Meet Your Leadership