Errol Lam was an Asian American activist, librarian, and reggae band manager. He passed away March 22, 2026 in Bowling Green, OH. He earned a Bachelor of Science in premedical science at Muhlenberg College, Allentown, PA and Master of Science In Library Science from Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo.
In the 1970’s, Errol worked with a group called Ethnic Coalition for a Fair Mass Media, which protested the lack of people of color in news reporting and succeeded in getting news stations to add more people of color to newscasting.
Errol was a reference librarian at Jerome Library, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH for 26 years. He served on various committees during his time there. During his years at BGSU, Errol spoke up and showed up at many diversity events, educating BGSU students both informally and in class on issues of marginalized and Asian American persons. Errol formed the BGSU Caribbean Student Association and was the faculty sponsor. He and students built shanties outside the student union to protest apartheid and advocate for the university’s divestment of South African investments. They succeeded in this mission. Errol and his wife Faye also served for years with the Families and Friends of the Northwest Ohio Development Center.
Errol and his wife Faye loved reggae music and they attended many reggae concerts around Ohio and the Midwest. Errol became the manager of the Ark Band, a reggae band and arranged and travelled with them to concerts throughout the Midwest. His band called him “Rootsie.” He also established a cricket club at BGSU as part of his Caribbean roots of which he was very proud. Errol grew up playing cricket in Guyana and enjoyed watching matches on TV in his later years.
R. Errol Lam was born in New Amsterdam, Guyana to Simon Lam and Alicia Ho You Lam. Errol gave credit to his mother for his caring for people. He was predeceased by his parents and special cousins, Clinton, Aubrey, and Hector Chu. Errol is survived by his wife of 56 years, Faye Kokai Lam and his son Christopher Errol Lam. His sister Irma Snell and brother in law Brian Snell live in Reading, England and their sons Ian Snell and Darren Snell, also of Reading, survive Errol.
Faye Lam wants to extend thanks for the great care given Errol by the nurses and aides at Ohio Living Hospice and Bowling Green Manor. She also appreciates very much the help given Errol and Faye by Bob and Cheryl Lance.
In memory of Errol, a celebration of life will be held May 17, 2026, 2:00 p.m. at Peace Lutheran Church, 1021 W. Wooster, Bowling Green, OH. Universal prayers and remembrances will be followed by food and music. Friends may donate to Ohio Living Hospice or Peace Lutheran Church. Arrangements for Errol were entrusted to Dunn Funeral Home in Bowling Green, Ohio.
Errol loved Bob Marley, who once said, “Live for yourself and you will live in vain; live for others and you will live again.” Errol practiced this service to and for others in his daily life.
