Erika Surkin died peacefully on March 17,2026, in Olney, MD, at the age of 78. Her husband of 55 years, Ron, and her children were with her.

Erika lived a life devoted to her family and to helping children with learning challenges. She was the ultimate child whisperer, connecting effortlessly with all young people, from infants through college students. She was endlessly creative, generous and empathetic, a lover of stories and music, and she thrived on supporting family, friends, and anyone in need.

Erika was a true helper, as Mr. Rogers defined it; whenever someone she knew needed emotional support, she provided it, starting with her sisters as they grew up on Long Island. This passion for helping led her to obtain a B.A. in Psychology in 1969 from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, followed by an M.Ed. in Educational Psychology from Boston University in 1971.

She began her career in 1969 at Fernald State School in Waverly, MA, working with children with brain injuries, physical disabilities, and severe behavior problems, where she developed a pilot project for children left deaf and blind from rubella. From 1972-83, after relocating with Ron to Delaware County, PA, she worked at Elwyn Institute as a school psychologist, helping children with disabilities and their families and teachers.

In 1983, she went into private practice as a school psychologist, providing psychological support to children from preschool to college age, and guiding their parents and teachers. She was a consulting psychologist for the Philadelphia, Montgomery County, and Delaware County chapters of the Easter Seals Society; the Cerebral Palsy Association of Delaware County; and the Delaware County Intermediate Unit, as well as a member of the Board of Trustees of Media-Providence Friends School and a member of the Advisory Board of Centreville School.

In 1998, Erika began formal training in play therapy, and she became a Registered Play Therapist in 2000. She passionately devoted the rest of her career to play therapy, practicing from her office in a converted 19th century barn at Sprucehaven Farm in Chester Heights, PA (an historic property dating to 1735 where she and Ron lived until 2024). Those years gave her immense joy and personal fulfillment. During this time, she was also a member of the Board of Trustees, staff psychologist, and co-director of the Concept School in Westtown, PA, and served a term as President of the Pennsylvania Association for Play Therapy from 2003-04.

We take comfort in knowing that the benefit of her mental health support will be passed on for generations both through the families of her clients, and her own family, to which she was completely devoted: her husband, Ron, her children, Rachel (Jeff Blum), Jill, and Mark, her grandchildren, Eli, Mara, and Amelia, her sisters, brothers-in-law and sister-in-law, nieces and nephews, and very close friends who were like family to her. She loved horseback riding, her many dogs and cats, classical and folk music, storytelling, traveling, and all manner of needlework, at which she was highly skilled (though her family did not wear the sweaters she knitted for them nearly enough).

Her smile lit up our lives, and her heart inspired us to live with kindness. We loved her dearly, and we are heartbroken at her passing.

Funeral services and burial will be held at Judean Memorial Gardens/Cemetery, 16225 Batchellors Forest Rd, Olney, MD 20832, on Friday, March 20, at 10 a.m. Following the services, the family will sit Shiva on Friday afternoon beginning at 12:30 p.m. at the home of Erika’s daughter, Rachel, located at 18550 Brooke Rd., Sandy Spring, MD 20860. The family will continue to welcome those who wish to visit on Friday evening, and on Saturday afternoon and evening after 1 p.m. The family will also sit Shiva in the Philadelphia area at the home of Erika’s sister, Pam Kauffman, 28 Derry Drive, Glen Mills, PA 19342, on Sunday, March 22, in the afternoon and evening, beginning at 2 p.m, and on Monday, March 23, beginning at 2 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations in Erika’s memory to the Foundation for Play Therapy, the charitable arm of the Association for Play Therapy.