Erland Arvid Suni, 75, died at home on Sept. 28, 2022.
He was raised in Harlem and The Bronx in New York City, places he carried in his heart even after leaving New York and eventually moving to Kansas City in 1980.
Erl was down-to-earth, known for his sense of humor, and had an abiding dislike for bureaucracy. He was caring and personable with a knack for helping people solve problems. He put these traits to good use over three decades at University of Missouri-Kansas City, mostly as a financial aid advisor, where he helped thousands of students on their path to a college degree.
Self-labeled as "Mr. Music," Erl had a deep knowledge of and appreciation for genres like classic rock, blues, jazz, and doo-wop, and he loved to share stories from his days organizing concerts at the City College of New York. He was a longtime fan of the Kansas City Royals and Kansas City Chiefs, both of which he loyally watched on TV once his mobility was limited by disability.
Erl was predeceased by his parents, Sigrid and Arvid. He is survived by and was extremely proud of his family, including his wife of 48 years, Ellen, and his children, Karin and Eric.
He will be fondly remembered and deeply missed by his family and those who knew him.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the American Jazz Museum and/or the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.
