Leisure Services to Hold Memorial Service for Erick Lising

A memorial service will be held Friday for a long-serving Union City Leisure Services employee who passed away last week, staff said.

Erick John “Rex” Lising, 36, had his young life cut short on July 6 due to diabetes-related cardiac arrest. A special memorial service will be held Friday from 3 to 6 p.m. at the , located at 31600 Alvarado Blvd. in Union City.

“Erick was the first face you saw when you entered the and greeted everyone with a smile,” said  Maynard Estrellado, a recreation coordinator for the Union City Sports Center. “He was definitely one of our members’ favorites and to staff, was the backbone in running our facility.”

Lising was an administrative assistant at the Sports Center and worked with the Leisure Services department since 1995, according to Estrellado.

According to Lising’s online obituary, the lifelong Union City resident and James Logan High School class of 1994 grad was diagnosed with diabetes at the age of 16.

“’Rex’ was a familiar face in his hometown … If you worked out in Union City, chances are you've seen his friendly face,” his obituary reads. “Erick's biggest gift was that he made friends wherever he went, and turned friends into family.”

Lising was recognized in 2008 as the Leisure Services’ Employee of the Year for his many contributions to the community. On top of his various roles with Leisure Services, Lising also helped manage a family business and enjoyed tennis, volleyball, golf and “tinkering.”

“He could fix anything computer, automotive or construction related, and everyone had him on speed dial for emergencies of any kind,” according to his obituary.

In April, Estrellado went on a golf trip with Lising. Inspired by Lising’s battle with diabetes, Estrellado wrote on his personal blog, “[Lising] taught me that there are many courses in life, some easy, some difficult, some that have plenty of obstacles. And some of these courses are a bit frustrating to play through. But it doesn’t matter how difficult the course is, it’s how you play through it.”

Lising is survived by his wife, Amy Stewart Lising; grandmother, Aurea Macam Lising; parents Elly and Tess Lising; sisters Ellen and Edna; brother-in-laws Robert and Ronald; and more than 50 relatives throughout the Bay Area.

Family members ask that community members wishing to honor Lising consider donating to the American Diabetes Association in his memory.

For more information, visit Lising's online tribute and donation page.

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