Erik Gustaf Collander

Who was Mr Erik Gustaf Collander?

Mr Erik Gustaf Collander was a 27 (twenty-seven) year-old Finnish engineer and second-class passenger aboard the ill-fated RMS Titanic. Born on April 19, 1884, in Mikkeli, Finland, Collander was traveling to the United States for study purposes and to surprise his cousin when the tragic sinking occurred on April 15, 1912.

Early Life and Family

A Medical Family Background

Erik Gustaf Collander was born into a family with a strong medical background. His father, Paul Collander (1848-1922), was a respected medical practitioner, while his mother, Augusta Erika Montin (1854-1931), managed their household. The couple had married in 1880, four years before Erik’s birth.

Siblings and Family Life

Erik was one of six children in the Collander family:

• Estrid Hanna (1881-1955, later Mrs Viktor Rafael Schauman)
• Erik Karl Robert (1882-1883)
• Erik Gustaf (1884-1912)
• Einar (1885-1909)
• Ruth Angelika (1888-1893)
• Paul Runar (1894-1973)

Tragically, Erik would outlive two of his siblings who died in childhood, only to meet his own untimely fate on the Titanic.

Education and Career

Engineering Expertise

Following in his father’s footsteps of pursuing a professional career, Erik Collander trained as an engineer. His technical skills and knowledge led him to secure a prestigious position as the technical director at a large paper mill near Helsinki, Finland’s capital city.

The Fateful Journey

A Surprise Visit Cut Short

On April 1, 1912, Erik Collander embarked on what was meant to be an exciting journey to the United States. His primary purposes for the trip were twofold:

1. To further his studies in engineering
2. To surprise his cousin, Dr. Paul Josef Collander

Dr. Paul Josef Collander, born in 1874, had emigrated to the United States just 18 months prior to Erik’s planned visit. The surprise nature of the visit adds a poignant layer to the tragedy that would unfold.

Boarding the Titanic

Erik boarded the RMS Titanic at Southampton as a second-class passenger. His ticket, number 248740, cost £13, a considerable sum at the time. This price point placed him in the middle class of passengers, affording him comfortable accommodations without the luxuries of first-class travel.

Did You Know? Second-class accommodations on the Titanic were comparable to first-class on many other ships of the era.

Fellow Finnish Passengers

While we don’t have specific accounts of Erik’s interactions aboard the ship, it’s likely that he found companionship among the small group of other Finnish passengers traveling in second class. This camaraderie among countrymen was common on transatlantic voyages, providing a sense of home and shared culture amidst the excitement and uncertainty of ocean travel.

The Tragic Sinking

Erik’s Final Moments

Like many of the Titanic’s passengers, Erik Collander’s final moments remain a mystery. What we do know is that he did not survive the sinking. At the young age of 27 (twenty-seven), Erik’s promising life and career were cut tragically short on April 15, 1912.

Recovery Efforts

In the aftermath of the disaster, extensive efforts were made to recover and identify the bodies of Titanic victims. However, Erik Collander’s body, if recovered, was never identified. This lack of closure must have been particularly difficult for his family back in Finland.

Legacy and Family Aftermath

The Collander Family’s Grief

The news of Erik’s death must have been devastating for the Collander family. His parents, Paul and Augusta, remained in Finland for the rest of their lives, carrying the weight of their loss. Paul Collander passed away in 1922, a decade after losing his son, while Augusta lived until 1931.

Surviving Family Members

Erik’s youngest brother, Paul Runar Collander, became the last surviving sibling, living until 1973 in Helsinki. Meanwhile, in the United States, the cousin Erik had hoped to surprise, Dr. Paul Josef Collander, continued his medical practice in Ashtabula. He married, raised a family, and lived until February 10, 1966, perhaps always wondering about the visit that never came to pass.

Erik Collander’s Place in Titanic History

Erik Gustaf Collander’s story, while one of many tragic tales from the Titanic disaster, offers a unique perspective on the international nature of the ship’s passengers. As a young, educated professional from Finland, he represents the aspirations and dreams of many European immigrants of his time, seeking knowledge and opportunities in the New World.

His untimely death serves as a poignant reminder of the human cost of the Titanic tragedy, affecting families across continents and leaving behind unanswered questions and unfulfilled potential.