Eric F. Vowinkel, 70, of Metuchen, died on Tuesday, October 25, 2022 at RWJUH in New Brunswick.

Born in Phillipsburg, he was raised in Belvidere in his earlier childhood before moving with his family to Bound Brook, where his heart remained throughout his life. He moved to Metuchen in 1980. Eric attended Cook College at Rutgers University as an undergraduate where he played for the Lightweight Football team and received his varsity letter. He received his PhD in Environmental Science. He was a member of the Frank Burns Memorial Scholarship and the Rutgers Football Letterwinners Association. He worked for the U.S. Geological Survey for over 30 years before retiring in 2012. He served a term as president of the NJ Chapter of the American Water Resources Association. He loved playing golf, attending Rutgers Football games, and rooting for the NY Giants. He was inducted into the Bound Brook High School Hall of Fame in 2014.

Eric is predeceased by his parents, Fred and Jane Vowinkel; and a sister, Roxanne Benetsky.

He is survived by his three children, Laura O’Neill and her husband Chris, Eric Vowinkel, and Christopher Vowinkel, and their mother, Susan Vowinkel; two grandchildren, Claire and Ryan O’Neill; two sisters, Linda Cuper and Lauren Blackford and her husband Tom; a brother-in-law, Mark Benetsky; and many nieces and nephews.