Eric Taxer
Board Member
Eric grew up in the lively city of Portland, Oregon, proudly representing his third-generation Oregonian roots. His grandparents were long-time members of Linnea, living next to Linnea Hall on NW Irving Street for many decades.
After graduating from Oregon State University, Eric chased adventure by moving to Lake Tahoe, kicking off his career as an environmental engineer with the State of California. In this role, he managed wetland restoration projects and tackled water quality issues from development. Among his more daring tasks, Eric supervised the cannabis regulatory unit, often joining law enforcement during thrilling cartel raids.
Volunteerism has always been Eric's jam! He's lent a hand to several cultural, social, political, and technical organizations. Since his retirement in 2020, Eric and his husband returned to Portland to reconnect with loved ones. Back in town, Eric's volunteer life continued, engaging with the Tryon Creek Watershed Council and local neighborhood groups. At Nordic Northwest, he's been super active, contributing to the Development Committee, Viking Beer Fest Committee, Campus Site Planning sub-committee, Strategic Planning Task Force, and the Nordic Nights Committee.
Favorite Nordic Food?
Our family's traditional Christmas meal has always been my Grandmother’s Svenska Köttbullar med Svenska Bruna Bönor. The delicious aroma of the meatballs and beans brings back fond memories of festive gatherings, where we would come together to celebrate the holiday season.
If you could pick one place in the Nordic countries to visit, where would it be?
I've recently reconnected with some of my second cousins in Sweden, so Stockholm is definitely at the top of my list. That said, I've never been to Finland and I'd love to go return to Iceland!