Eric M. Teitelbaum, a Bahá’í pioneer in Colombia for four decades, presented Bahá’í teachings over many years to acquaintances, villagers and dignitaries — most of that time in the face of continual illness and disability. Through his family’s involvement, he witnessed the early growth of the Ruhi Institute.

Eric passed away October 23, 2017, at his pioneering post in Turbaco, Colombia, at age 84.

The National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States, in messages of tribute, praised Eric as “a longstanding and devoted U.S. pioneer” to Colombia “for more than 40 years,” and as “one who served so faithfully throughout his life even while enduring physical hardship.”

Born in 1933 and brought up in the Los Angeles area, Eric was a divorcé working to get his life together when he found and embraced the Bahá’í Faith in 1961. He pioneered locally where communities needed him, and served on Spiritual Assemblies in the La Crescenta, Glendale and La Puente areas. He also traveled to teach the Faith elsewhere on the West Coast.

After working through college and marrying a second time, he moved as a pioneer to Maui, Hawaii, and set up shop as a music teacher and instrument repairer. In his five years there he taught the Faith locally and in organized campaigns, served on the Maui Island Teaching Committee, and assisted in establishing a new Spiritual Assembly.

In 1975 he was on his own again, and moved to Colombia as a pioneer in remote areas for a year. After another year in California, he returned to Colombia permanently in 1977, living primarily in Cartagena, where he served for many years on the Spiritual Assembly as well as on regional teaching committees.

Eric took many opportunities to travel to the interior to share the Bahá’í teachings and help local communities organize, as well as supporting teaching conferences in nearby countries. In 1979 he married Sol Marina Medrano, and they brought up three daughters.

A severe case of Guillain-Barré syndrome in 1983–1984 left him bedridden for months, and paralysis in a leg lingered the rest of his life. As he was able he resumed traveling to the countryside, and periodically helped U.S. Bahá’í offices make connections for prospective pioneers. He worked in 1985 to distribute the Universal House of Justice’s statement The Promise of World Peace to officials in several localities. As a saxophonist he participated in a musical group with other local Bahá’í musicians. Occasionally he presented and performed at Bahá’í schools in various countries.

As the Ruhi Institute began flourishing in the late 1980s, he shared his observations on how it was helping young Bahá’ís more consistently serve the Cause and “moving souls, and the community, on their spiritual path toward Bahá’u’lláh.” As time went by he and other family members strengthened their capacities, and often those of others when they traveled, by participating in and tutoring study circles and children’s classes.

Over the years, in his own words, he established “deep friendships and relationships with a number of good people,” some of whom proved of great assistance during times of ill health and other misfortunes. He remained in greater Cartagena the rest of his life.

Eric Mosai Teitelbaum is survived by his wife, Sol Medrano; two sons, Richard of California and Miles of Canada; three daughters, Suzanna, Erica and Grechel; and their children.