Erika F. Askin

Erika F. Askin, of Danbury, CT, passed away peacefully at Yale New Haven Hospital on February 17, 2025. She was 74 years old.

Born on March 16, 1950 in Chicago, IL, daughter of the late Martin and Frances (Ayers) Ketelhohn. Erika graduated from Music and Art High School in New York City in 1968. She continued her education to receive her Master’s in Fine Arts from UMass Amherst in 1977, and her Master’s in Art History from Tufts University in 1986.

Erika married the love of her life Dean J. Askin on June 14, 1987. With varied interests in art and art history, Erika worked as an art dealer at Childs Gallery in Boston and curatorial assistant at the Fogg Art Museum, and was the curator and acting director of Gallery Eleven at Tufts University from 1986-1990.  She was a certified fine art appraiser with the America Society of Appraisers during the 1990s and 2000’s.  She taught art to students at numerous Danbury area elementary and middle schools.  She was an active member of the board of the Danbury Historical Society and served as its President from 2014-15.  For the last 14 years, she was the Curator of Collections at the Keeler Tavern Museum & History Center in Ridgefield, where she established the Museum’s collections database, contributed to the education programs and designed exhibitions of art, historical artifacts and porcelain wares.

Erika always enjoyed a wide variety of creative and active pursuits.  She studied printmaking and lithography as an art student, and expanded to painting floral motifs in the 1990s.  She studied fashion design and, under the brand name of Bee Askin, created eco-fashions using recycled materials such as men’s dress shirts.  She was an active member of the Danbury Garden Club, serving on the crafts and artistic design committees.  A dancer in her student days, she engaged in active sports such as rock climbing, hiking, swimming, skiing and ballroom dancing.

Erika is not only survived by her beloved husband, Dean, but also her daughters; Lindsey Davidson and Kristen Askin, and her grandchildren; Luke Hadden, Jonathan Davidson, and Henry Davidson.

A memorial service will be held in late March at the Keeler Tavern Museum in Ridgefield. The Danbury Memorial Funeral Home (117 South Street) assisted the family with arrangements. Please visit Danburymemorial.com to send the family condolences.  Donations in Erika’s memory can be made to the Keeler Tavern Museum & History Center, 152 Main Street, Ridgefield, CT.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Erika F. Askin, please visit our floral store.