Kenneth Erdman, marketing guru, dead at 75

By Johnny Brannon
Advertiser Staff Writer

Kenneth Erdman, a part-time Honolulu resident and chairman of PacRim Marketing Group Inc., died Dec. 21 at Montgomery Hospital, near Philadelphia. He was 75.

Erdman worked in marketing for 40 years and received awards for his campaigns. He was a frequent lecturer at the University of Hawai'i, Chaminade University and Hawai'i Pacific University and for various business groups.

His expertise was in developing direct mail marketing programs and creative public relations and promotional programs. He also wrote magazine articles, columns and books, and spoke at workshops and seminars. His published works include the "Do It Yourself Direct Mail Handbook" and "Network Your Way to Success."

Erdman was co-founder of the Direct Response Advertising and Marketing Association of Hawai'i and was past president of the Philadelphia Direct Marketing Association.

A Navy and Marine veteran, Erdman served as a combat corpsman during the invasion of Okinawa in World War II, and served as a hospital corpsman in the United States, Japan, China and Korea.

He is survived by his wife, Sue; children, Larry and Dave Erdman and Beth Baue; five grandchildren; and sister, Willye Mae.

"He was a real marketing guru who loved to share his expertise with others," Dave Erdman said.

Services will be held 11 a.m. today at Grace Presbyterian Church in Jenkintown, Pa. No flowers. Donations can be made to the Rotary Foundation in memory of Ken Erdman and sent to: Rotary Club of Honolulu Sunrise, P.O. Box 17040, Honolulu, HI 96817; or the American Diabetes Association Hawai'i Chapter, 1500 S. Beretania St., Suite 111, Honolulu, HI 96826.