Where Are They Now? — Erik Lundquist

• Name: Erik Lundquist
  
• Occupation: Family Physician, US Navy
  
• Spouse: Erika
  
• Spouse's Occupation: Housewife
  
• Children (names, ages): Max-10, Royce-8, Aurora-5
  
• Current City and State: Naples, Italy
  
• Places You've Lived since High School: Ephraim, UT; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Eagle Rock, CA; Provo, UT; St. Louis, MO; Laguna Beach, CA; Camp Pendleton, CA; Temecula, CA; Naples, Italy
  
• Colleges Attended and Degrees Earned: Snow College, AS; Occidental College, BS; St Louis University Medical School, MD
  
• Favorite Pastimes: Hanging out with kids exploring old castles, reading, running and soccer.
  
• Other Accomplishments You Are Most Proud Of Since High School: First and foremost, convincing Erika to marry me. Others- Valedictorian, Snow College 1992; Academic All-American Football; Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with Combat Valor
  
• Most Embarrassing/Funny Moment from High School: I would have to say my first date. I had asked Kim (Blackburn) Santiago to a date dance and when we arrived at Marie Calendars for dinner I spent 10 min (or so it seemed) trying to figure out how to turn off the lights of the car only to discover that it was a grass lamp shining on the wall not my head light. Later I ran three red lights in row. Yes, I had just received my driver's license.
  
• Most Memorable Moment of Your Senior Year: First, winning state championship in Soccer. Second, beating Timpview in football on their field.
  
• Most Influential Person in High School (student, teacher, etc.): There were lots of influential people and I can't single out just one. Mr. Martin, in physiology, Miss Cooper in Biology and Rob McKay and Traci (Hall) Blair.
  
  

I can't believe that it has all ready been 20 years since graduation. When I think back on all that has happened since then it becomes a little easier to realize, but the time has sure passed by quickly. During that time I have been blessed with many incredible opportunities to travel and serve throughout the world, meet new people and start a beautiful family (thanks to a beautiful wife).

After graduating from Provo High, I went to Snow College to play football and there discovered an interest in medicine. Before graduating I took time out for a mission to Brazil, where spending time with poor and disabled helped cement the decision to work in health care.

Moving on to Los Angeles, I then had the privilege to finish my football career with my brother Davin '89 at a small liberal arts school called Occidental college. It was there on the soccer field that I met my wife, Erika (I know it sounds pretty corny, Erik & Erika).

Next we traveled to Missouri, where at St Louis University (SLU) medical school I ran into Bruce Stanely, '89 as well as Pat Lindsay, who was attending law school near by. It was there our family grew from 2 to 4 (two boys in two years, Max and Royce) and I initiated my career with the military. Looking for a way to avoid significant debt, I joined the Navy who made an offer that was too good to pass up. They paid for medical school in return for a few years of service in return.

Four years later and we were back in Southern California at the Navy Hospital Camp Pendleton in the summer of 2000. However, my residency was interrupted at the end of my first year so I could cut my hair really short and hang out with the Marines as a Battalion Surgeon. What was initially billed as a "great way to see the world on the Navy's dime", turned into two deployments to the Middle East in support of the War on Terrorism. I was first deployed during the winter/spring of 2002 off the coast of Afghanistan and then year later to Iraq during the initial attack phase. In fact, I am proud to be part of the first Marine unit into Baghdad that spring on the same day that our third child, Aurora was born.

After returning to Camp Pendleton to complete my residency, we were fortunate enough to find ourselves in Naples, Italy. We have had a great time immersing ourselves in the Italian culture and cuisine (pizza was invented in Naples) and have traveled all over Europe. I have seen more castles and ruins and cathedrals then I knew even existed, and have found out that I actually enjoy looking at artwork (who knew, but then it's hard not to enjoy Florence). Of course, being in Italy for the World Cup was a highlight, even though my Post Traumatic Stress Disorder kicked in with all the celebration fireworks. J For those who would like to see more pictures please visit: http://picasaweb.google.com/ejlundquist and/or http://enelundquist.blogspot.com/.

Sadly our European vacation will be coming to an end after 3 years and we will be returning to Southern California this fall where we will be leaving the Navy for the glorified civilian life. I look forward to seeing all of you again.